(Minghui.org) Meihekou police ransacked four homes on January 12, 2016 and seized seven people, either because they practiced or supported Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline being persecuted by the Chinese communist regime.
Out of the five Falun Gong practitioners arrested, four remain detained. The arrests of Mr. Wang Zhongjiang, Ms. Cheng Xiumei, and Ms. Xing Deqin were formally approved on February 6, two days before the Chinese New Year. By law, they must now be tried.
The arrest status of Mr. Wang's wife Ms. Yin Cuihong is not yet known.
The police confiscated a large number of valuables from the four homes, including cash saved for school tuition for Mr. Wang's 17-year-old daughter. The high school sophomore sought to recover the money, but the police refused to return it and went to investigate her at school. The teen now has trouble focusing on her studies and suffers from frequent anxiety attacks. She misses her parents, who are still detained.
Ms. Cheng Xiumei and Mr. Jian Zhaojin
On the night of January 12, the police brought a locksmith with them to the couple's home and broke in. They started ransacking the place without producing any identification.
Mr. Jian Zhaojin, who does not practice Falun Gong, had just returned home. He tried to stop the officers, who then kicked him.
The police confiscated many Falun Gong items and arrested the couple, who were not provided with a list of confiscated items.
Ms. Cheng Xiumei, who is a practitioner, was transferred to a detention center while Mr. Jian was detained at the Domestic Security Division for 18 hours for “disrupting” police work.
Although their daughter is 20 years old, she was badly affected by the incident. She jumps whenever this is a knock on the door, and strangers frighten her.
Mr. Wang Zhongjiang and Ms. Yin Cuihong
After arresting the first couple, the police went upstairs to the second couple's home. Both Mr. Wang Zhongjiang and Ms. Yin Cuihong practice Falun Gong. They had rented an apartment above Ms. Cheng and Mr. Jian.
Similar to the first arrest, the police broke in. The couple's apartment was ransacked. Items confiscated included their daughter's laptop and 10,000 yuan intended for her tuition.
The police went to Ms. Yin parents' home the next day and handed them the "Notice of Detention", informing them that their daughter and son-in-law had been arrested. When the older couple asked the reason for the arrest, they were threatened with arrest for “harboring criminals.”
The couple's 17-year-old daughter now lives in terror and has problems concentrating on her studies after the police went to her school to investigate her. She was promised that her laptop and tuition fees would be returned after the Chinese New Year, but that did not happen.
Ms. Xing Deqin and Two Family Members
That same night, the police went to the home shared by Ms. Xing and her younger brother, both of whom are Falun Gong practitioners.
Ms. Xing had gone upstairs to her brother's room, and was about to open the door when several officers came out of nowhere. They snatched her keys and opened her brother's door.
They confiscated Falun Gong items and a computer, as well as Ms. Xing's sister-in-law's ID card and her cell phone. Her brother was arrested. Ms. Xing's sister-in-law fainted.
Next, the police went downstairs to Ms. Xing's living quarters and arrested her daughter-in-law, Ms. Xue. When Ms. Xing's son tried to stop them from arresting her, he was injured during the struggle.
Ms. Xing's younger sister, who was visiting her to celebrate the New Year, had a heart attack when she saw the police ransacking the house. The police ignored her and continued to ransack the house.
Many of Ms Xing's personal items, as well as her sister's belongings, were confiscated.
Ms. Xing's brother was interrogated overnight and released after he signed the interrogation record. Ms. Xing and her daughter-in-law Ms. Xue were taken to the detention center.
However, Ms. Xing's family knew nothing of Ms. Xing and Ms. Xue's whereabouts, because the police did not notify them. Instead, their family was told to make several trips to the police department for questioning. They were threatened with arrest if they refused to go.
Ms. Xing's daughter tried asking for a list of confiscated items, but the police responded with threats, saying that they would arrest her if any of the items belonged to her.
After numerous requests from the family, some of the items were returned. Ms. Xue, who is not a practitioner, was released on bail on January 29, 2016.
Ms. Xing's sister-in-law had to make a trip to the police department even though she was still on an IV due to the heart attack. The police questioned her and forced her to sign the interrogation record. Her husband had heart palpitations after the arrest and often feels weak.
Parties involved in the arrests:Meihekou Police DepartmentCai Chunyang, director and secretary: +86-4354308601 (Office), +86-13904454346Li Chunliang, political commissar and deputy secretary: +86-4354308602 (Office), +86-13321537766
Ministry of State SecurityLi Yongbin, director: +86-4354359655 (Office), +86-15114399779 (Cell)Bai Xu, deputy director: +86-4354385001 (Office), +86-13904452177 (Cell)
(Contact information for additional officials involved can be found in the original Chinese article.)
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