(Minghui.org) Nine residents of Siping City, Jilin Province, including six family members, were arrested on August 15, 2019 for not renouncing their faith in Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been persecuted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

It has been reported that the local police and Domestic Security Division monitored the practitioners' daily activities, as well as their Internet and cellphone use for months before carrying out the arrests.

More than 20 officers broke into Mr. Meng Xiangqi's home at 7:40 a.m. on August 15. They ransacked the place and confiscated more than 4,000 yuan in cash, Falun Gong books and related materials, as well as the family's bank cards and IDs.

Mr. Meng's parents-in-law, Mr. Yao Deyi and Ms. Fu Guihua, 54, who was in poor health condition, were also arrested.

Mr. Meng's wife, Ms. Yu Jianping, and their three-month-old baby were left at home alone, with only 300 yuan in cash left after the home-ransacking.

Mr. Meng's parents, Mr. Wang Guizhen and Mr. Meng Fanjun, as well as his sister-in-law Ms. Yu Jianli, were also arrested on the same day.

In addition to Mr. Meng's family, Mr. Li Changkun, 75, was arrested at home around 9:00 a.m. His Falun Gong books and the founder's photo were confiscated by police.

Mr. Jiang Tao was arrested at around 1:00 p.m. He had visited Mr. Meng the day before.

Another practitioner surnamed Pan disappeared on the same day. His family suspected that he was also arrested.