Police in China's Gansu Province announced Tuesday they have apprehended seven people who had allegedly convinced a local Tibetan villager to immolate himself.

A police investigation showed the self-immolation of a 26-year-old resident of Nawu township in the city of Hezuo on October 6, 2012 was "masterminded by key members of the 'Tibetan Youth Congress' of the overseas Dalai clique," according to a statement.

On December 9, police in Sichuan Province said they have detained a monk and his nephew for their roles in inciting self-immolations. The monk in Aba county has goaded eight people to set themselves on fire since 2009, said the police.

Xinhua