(Minghui.org) Four Falun Gong practitioners in Songbu Town, Macheng City, Hubei Province were arrested on January 31, 2023, and two of them are still detained at the time of writing.

Ms. Yan Qing’e, Ms. Tao Xiai, 69, Ms. Cao Guirong, in her 60s, and Mr. Hao, were arrested in Tiemen Village (under the administration of Songbu Town) after being reported for raising awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that has been targeted by the Chinese communist regime since 1999.

The police interrogated the four practitioners at the Tiemen Village Police Station. A tall officer didn’t only beat Ms. Tao, but also twisted her arm and slammed her hand against the table. Her hand became swollen and bruised. The officer hit her head against the wall, causing her to become disoriented. She and other practitioners were forced to press their fingerprints on the case documents.

The police ransacked all four practitioners’ homes and confiscated their Falun Gong books. The police harassed Ms. Yan a few more times after she was released on the same day.

Ms. Tao was released on February 17, 2023, after 17 days at the Macheng City Detention Center. Mr. Hao is still held at the Macheng City Detention Center and Ms. Cao has been transferred to the Huanggang City Detention Center.