A Buddhist monk set himself on fire at Boudhanath, Kathmandu on Tuesday morning. Witnesses say the monk, lit butter lamps at Boudhanath stupa before setting himself on fire. The monk was rushed to Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital by the police but witnesses believe him to have succumbed to injuries long before the police arrived.
In Febuary, a 25-year old monk who had self immolated at the same place died during treatment at Teaching Hospital. Following this incident a larger police force was deployed in Boudhanath, one of the largest settlements of Tibetans in Nepal.
A total of 120 Tibetans in have self immolated in protest against Chinese presence in Tibet. The Chinese government has criminalised the self-immolation protests and has sentenced scores of Tibetans to heavy jail term for their participation in the protests.