Two police hurt as dispute turns violent in NW China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-29 20:12

XINING -- A Saturday night dispute among neighbors in northwest China, some of whom were drunk, escalated to the point where a police station was damaged and two police were injured, according to the local public security bureau.

According to the bureau in Xining, capital of Qinghai province, two men -- Da Mingjun and Lu Chengliang -- argued with their upstairs neighbor Li Zuchao over a leaky floor at about 9 p.m.

The two were beaten by Li and some of his friends and relatives, who had been drinking, said Wang Xiaohua, political commissar of the Chengxi substation of the Xining Public Security Bureau. Da was then held captive in Li's apartment, prompting Lu to call police, Wang said.

The quarreling parties were taken to the Hutai police station. Li's guests then descended on the station twice, with about three dozen attacking the facility each time.

In the fracas, a notice board, camera and other station facilities were damaged or destroyed.

Dong Yongting, an officer on duty, sustained ear injuries, while his assistant He Xingzhi was hurt on the head. Both were sent to the hospital.

Police were "restrained and calm" during the whole incident and none of the suspects or attackers were injured, said Wang.

He said that seven of Li's guests, all of whom were migrant workers from central China's Henan province, participated in the attack and were under investigation.