Free Tibet, a London-based group, said the Tibetans gathered in Luhuo, west of Sichuan’s capital of Chengdu, and marched on government offices, where security forces opened fire.

The Tibetans were protesting about arrests earlier in the day in connection with the distribution of pamphlets carrying the slogan “Tibet Needs Freedom” and declaring that more Tibetans were ready to stage self-immolations to challenge Chinese rule, the group said.

One resident — a 49-year-old Tibetan man called Yonten — was shot dead by government forces and another 30 or so residents were injured, said Free Tibet.

Another advocacy group, the International Campaign for Tibet, said three people were killed and about nine injured when police fired into the crowd in Luhuo, which is called Drango by Tibetans.