Chinese state media say two Tibetans have been put on trial for inciting self-immolations in southwestern China’s Sichuan province.

The official Xinhua News Agency said on Saturday that Lorang Konchok, 40, and his nephew Lorang Tsering, 31, are accused of encouraging eight people to self-immolate and that three of them - Tsedrup, Tsenam and Jokba - died from burns last year in Sichuan’s Aba county.

Overseas rights groups have reported nearly 100 cases of self-immolations since 2009 by Tibetans, as a protest against rule by Beijing and a call for the return of the Dalai Lama.

Beijing blames the spiritual leader for inciting self-immolations.

Xinhua says documents from an Aba court show the Lorangs had close contact with a media group championing Tibet independence and belonging to the “Dalai clique.”