A university student was mistaken for a thief and beaten with iron pipes by a railway worker and a security guard.

The student suffered multiple bone fractures and his assailants have been detained by police, reports Information Times.

Huang Jianan, who attends the South China University of Technology, was walking along the railway track in Foshan's Sanshui District on October 5 when two men shouted for him to stop.

Seeing iron pipes in their hands, Huang thought they wanted to rob him so he started to run. He was overtaken and beaten with the pipes for about 10 minutes. Huang showed his student card to the pair - one of whom was wearing a security guard uniform - but they declared Huang's identity papers fake.

They said they were taking Huang to the police station, but started heading in the wrong direction. Then the man in plain clothes walked off at a crossing.

Instantly suspicious, Huang grabbed the uniformed man and screamed, attracting the attention of passers-by.

The security guard was forced to show Huang his ID before leaving.

The seriously injured Huang hailed a taxi and went to hospital alone.

Police later arrested the two assailants, warehouse watchman Lu Shengfa and security guard Zong Zhifa.

Zong was not on duty when the beating took place, according to his supervisor.

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