(Minghui.org) Eight police vehicles surrounded a residential building in Yuzhou City, Henan Province around 5 a.m. on July 16, 2020. Several Falun Gong practitioners, who lived in the building, were arrested.
Ms. Liao Xiangye and Ms. Qiao Shuhong’s doors were kicked open by the police. Ms. Qiao Yun and her son, Mr. Xu Mengliang, who doesn’t practice Falun Gong, were also arrested.
Later that evening, the police and property management staff knocked on each resident’s door and asked questions. The police threatened to arrest everyone who lived in the building.
According to sources, the arrests and harassment were triggered by the death of Ms. Zhang Zhiwen, who lived in the building and died in police custody four days after her arrest on May 13, 2020. The police suspected the aforementioned practitioners of exposing Ms. Zhang's death on Minghui.org.
Ms. Zhang’s family was devastated by her death and has filed a complaint with the Xuchang City Procuratorate, demanding a thorough investigation of her death and that the perpetrators be brought to justice. It’s not clear whether they have been intimidated in the new round of arrests and harassment.
Prior to arresting the practitioners, the police had installed two surveillance cameras outside of the residential building. Two more cameras were recently installed.
Luo Dongjun and Wang Xiaowei of the Yuzhou Domestic Security Office, who took the lead in Ms. Zhang’s arrest, also participated in the new round of the arrests.
At the time of writing, Ms. Qiao Shuhong has been sent to the Xuchang City Detention Center. Ms. Qiao Yun has been released, but her son remains in the Yuzhou City Detention Center. Ms. Liao’s situation is not clear.
Related report:
Henan Woman Dies in Custody Four Days After Being Arrested for Practicing Falun Gong
