Beijing: Residents say paramilitary police are patrolling the streets of a central Chinese city following a riot there over the death of city councilman while in police custody.
Authorities have suspended a deputy Communist Party chief of Lichuan in an apparent effort to calm the anger caused by the June 04 death of local people`s congress deputy Ran Jianxin.
While Ran`s death remains officially under investigation, relatives say he was beaten to death and have circulated photos on the Internet purporting to show bruises covering his body.
Thursday`s riot prompted police to bring in reinforcements from the paramilitary People`s Armed Police backed by armoured cars. The patrols were reported by residents who refused to give their names for fear of reprisals.
Bureau Report
