 10 detained in riot sparked by drowning
By Ma Lie (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-12 07:19 XI'AN: Ten people including nine farmers and one assistant to the traffic police were detained following a riot in Fugu county on July 5, sparked by the death of a farmer who jumped into the Yellow River to evade police, officials said on Friday. Qi Wancai, deputy magistrate of Fugu county, told China Daily that Wang Yongyao, a civilian assistant to the traffic police who was on duty on July 5, was detained for dereliction of duty. Five others - one policeman and four assistants to the police on duty that day - have been suspended and told to cooperate in an investigation into the case, he said. The nine farmers were detained for clashing with police and damaging two police cars, Qi said. On Thursday, the relatives of the drowned farmer, He Liqi, were given 399,800 yuan ($58,500) in compensation, Xu Shixiang, director of the county's public security bureau, said. "With efforts made by both sides, the police and He's relatives reached an agreement for compensation," he said. On July 3, He jumped into the river after being stopped by police. He was alleged to be carrying people in his tractor without a driving license, Xi'an Daily reported on Friday. Su Hairong, deputy chief of the county traffic police who was working with five police assistants on July 3, said they tried to rescue He from the river, but failed. His body was retrieved two days later. On July 5, farmers, angered by the incident, clashed with police. Relatives of the dead man started the clash, but were soon joined by onlookers, Xu said. (China Daily 07/12/2008 page3) |
