China jails 17 for violently obstructing urban demolition
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Xinhua, November 12, 2011
A court in northwest China on Friday sentenced 17 people to jail for attacking law enforcers in a house demolition dispute, a scenario which has become all too familiar in China in recent years.
The 17 people were found guilty by a district court in Lanzhou city of beating, clubbing, and hurling bricks to wound about 20 officers who tried to demolish a makeshift construction they considered illegal in Lanzhou on July 26. Nine officers were hospitalized with head and chest injuries.
The attackers were arrested on Aug. 22 and charged with violently obstructing law enforcement on Sept. 16, court officials said. Their jail terms ranged from three to six months.
None of them appealed the sentences, according to the officials.
In China, there have been many cases in recent years of homeowners, property developers, and law enforcers fighting over demolition plans and compensation payouts. Forced home demolitions with suspected official misconduct have also reported.
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