Hundreds of angry Tibetans forced Chinese authorities Sunday to return the body of a monk who self-immolated.Sopa, a 42-year-old respected monk, set himself on fire and died in the town center of Darlag county in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.Several hundred Tibetans marched to the police station to demand his remains and when their request was denied, the protesters smashed windows and doors of the local police station.When the police finally relented and handed over Sopa's remains, the protesters paraded the body in the streets.

Sopa was a Rinpoche, an honorific used in Tibetan Buddhism for lamas and other high-ranking or respected teachers. He served in a monastery in Darlag.

His death came after two Tibetans set themselves on fire Friday in restive Ngaba prefecture , protesting against Chinese rule.

Fifteen Tibetans have self immolated since March last year and rights groups say the incidents underscored the "desperate" situation facing Tibetans as Chinese authorities pursued a security clampdown.