The Henan Province native, Zhao Zhijun, climbed onto a power tower near Chengshou Temple in Beijing at 10:30am yesterday, trying to commit suicide because his wife hired a hit man to kill him, he said.

Police, fire crews and personnel from the electric company arrived soon, asking him to get off the tower.

Zhao kept silent because he didn't believe the police could ensure his protection from his wife's hired hit man.

The police set aside a space and arranged a table of dishes to convince Zhao that they would help him, while the electric company workers maintained the order.

Zhao accepted their help after about three hours and got off the tower, but as soon as he reached the ground, the electric company workers rushed over to him and started to beat him. The police immediately stopped them but Zhao's clothes had already been ripped off.

Zhao was then taken to the police station, and the workers left with their boss.

A person at the scene remarked that although the man's behavior influenced public security, the workers had no right to beat him.

Beijing police have taken Zhao to find his wife after talking with him.