Rioters in southwestern China torched government buildings and cars after anger over a probe into a schoolgirl’s death exploded into violent protests.
Protesters were also furious over death of the girl’s uncle during the agitation
BEIJING: Rioters in southwestern China torched government buildings and cars after anger over a probe into a schoolgirl’s death exploded into violent protests, locals and state press said on Sunday.
The riots occurred on Saturday in Guizhou province when protesters ransacked three government and police buildings after the girl’s uncle died from an alleged beating by police trying to stop him from protesting against the handling of the case, locals and Internet postings said.
The official Xinhua news agency said the riots had erupted due to “dissatisfaction” over the investigation into the girl’s death, but added no further details.
Pictures posted on Internet blogs showed several thousand people gathered in front of the Wengan county police station, its windows shattered and the building smouldering.
The Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said that over 10,000 people took to the streets in the protests, with up to 150 people injured in clashes with police.
Police have arrested nearly 200 rioters and were seeking to round up others caught on videotape ransacking the government buildings, the centre said. Over 1,500 paramilitary and riot police have been dispatched to the county, it added.
Locals said protesters took to the streets after the deceased girl’s uncle was pronounced dead in a local hospital on Saturday afternoon.
The uncle had protested against the conclusion of the police investigation that had determined the 15-year-old girl committed suicide.
He had been badly beaten as he sought justice after the death of his niece, locals said.
Internet postings said the girl had been raped and then killed nine days ago and that the police were trying to cover up the alleged murder and protect the suspect, who was identified as the son of the vice head of Wengan county.
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