ADAMPOOL, East Sikkim: Police on Sunday halted the march to the Rumtek monastery by the third claimant to the title of the 17th Karmapa, Dawa Uangpo Dorjee, to avoid any law and order problem at the religious place.

The post, lying vacant since 1981, has two other claimants.

A large contingent of police personnel blocked the over 50-vehicle convoy of Dorjee, about 10 km ahead of the monastery.

"Since police did not grant permission to the march, it is totally illegal," police told the delegation.

Dorjee, dressed in maroon and yellow robe with beads and a golden watch hanging from his left hand, argued they should be permitted to go to the monastery, the headquarters of the Karma Kagyu sect of Buddhism, where he would undergo a test to prove the authenticity of his claim.

Later the delegation presented a memorandum asking the government to bring the other two claimnants to Rumtek.

"I can wait till the two come", said Dorjee.

Besides Sikkim-born Dawa Uangpo Dorjee, Urgyen Thinley Dorjee, whom the Dalai Lama recognised as the 'genuine' candidate, and Thaye Thinley Dorjee, nominee of a rival faction, were other two contenders for the post.