Teen death at addiction center stirs controversy

A 19-year-old female student's death at a private school in Henan province's Zhengzhou has aroused debate on the role of physical punishment in dealing with Internet-addicted teenagers.

The school where the teen died, Zhengzhou Boqiang New Idea Life Training School in Henan province, claimed to be effective in helping teenagers kick their Internet habit and other unhealthy behaviors.

According to the police in Zhengzhou, the 19-year-old female student, Ling Ling (not her real name), from Xinxiang in northern Henan, died on May 19 during a nighttime training session that was a form of punishment for the girl, who was considered to have violated the school's regulations.