Dharamsala (AsiaNews/RFA) – Authorities in the Tibetan region of Karze in southwestern China's Sichuan province have detained without charge the abbot of a large Buddhist monastery.

Some witnesses said the arrest was "possibly" connected to the appearance one year ago of posters supporting Tibetan independence in the place of worship.

The arrest was denounced by an anonymous caller: "Karze security officials arrested Khenpo Jinpa, abbot of Choktsang Taklung Monastery in Serda County. His room was searched for a long time without any kind of advance notice." Taklung Monastery is one of the oldest in the area, and is currently home to around 300 monks.

The arrest took place in the early afternoon of 23 August. The source said: "The armed police arrived in two army vehicles and surrounded the monastery, blocking the exits. After doing this, they seized the abbot."

"The security officials searched his room too but found no incriminating materials of any kind. They never explained reasons for his arrest," added the source.

A policed officer of Dartsedo who answered the phone did not deny the arrest but "suggested speaking to his superior" who could not be located.

A source in the Indian town of Dharamsala, home of the exiled Tibetan government and Dalai Lama, confirmed the arrest. The source hailing from Serda County said the local police had been overruled by a team of officers coming from Dartsedo.

The source added: "Local Tibetan monks suspect the arrest could be related to pro-independence posters displayed a year ago at the monastery." For the same reason, police arrested a 16-year-old girl named Yiwang, guilty of being in possession of flyers calling for freedom for the Dalai Lama.