A number of villagers in southern China have been injured after police used batons to break up a protest over a land dispute, according to reports.
Protesters had blocked a highway in Sanjiao village, Guangdong province, to complain they were not paid enough for land bought to build a road.
“Many people were injured,” a man told the Associated Press news agency – but a government official has denied this.
See also “Petition-led traffic blockade in south China city ends” from Xinhua:
A highway resumed operation after petitioners for land compensation who blocked a local highway in the past four days dispersed Sunday noon in south China’s Guangdong Province, an official said.
No one died in the incident that occurred in Sanjiao township of Zhongshan City, and police used no tear gas or electronic batons or water cannon while dispersing the petitioners and onlookers, said a spokesman with the municipal government of Zhongshan.
However, two policemen and three villagers were injured after the throw of rocks and firecrackers at policemen by petitioners led to chaos.
