A Buddhist temple was ruined in Hunan, and several people were beaten during protests against it.
Bitter Winter recently received videos that expose the brutality of Chinese authorities during a temple demolition.
On February 8, 2018, the public security bureau of Hunan’s Leiyang city mobilized nearly 800 special police officers and dispatched more than 30 vehicles for a temple demolition. It was being pulled down on the grounds that “the temple did not have government approval.”
However, believers had gathered around to protest and block the authorities. When they did not leave easily, officials ordered the police officers to beat them, because “they’re not listening.”
The police officers took out their electric batons and assaulted many of the believers nearby. One of those was an 83-year-old man who was shoved to the ground and taken away later.
Other believers climbed onto the temple’s roof. They were forcibly dragged down and beaten up. In one instance, police officers put a coat over a believer’s head before beating him up. This caused severe bleeding, and he had to be rushed to the hospital. Upon examination, it was found that his liver, lungs, and kidneys were all injured in the attack. Besides, his right elbow was dislocated, and two of his ribs were broken.
Another believer, who was trying to record all of this brutality on his cellphone, had his hands and feet tied up before he was assaulted. He too suffered bleeding in his head. In total, more than 30 believers were injured during this forced demolition.
Later, the police seized items worth several hundred thousand RMB from the temple. The haul included 17 statues and a pair of guardian lions made of white jade.
Reported by Shen Xiang
The police shove and assault the Buddhists:
Believers climb onto the roof to protest the demolition, but are forcibly dragged down by the police:
Believers are knocked unconscious by the police:
The police demolish the temple:
