Police in Beijing have for the first time detained property developers who allegedly forced residents out of their homes to demolish them, a Chinese state-run newspaper has reported.  Old city housing is being demolished to make way for skyscrapers |
The issue has been in the spotlight after a series of incidents where people set fire to themselves to protest against their forced eviction. It is a situation which is becoming increasingly common in China's cities, where dilapidated housing is being knocked down to make way for gleaming new skyscrapers.
But the details printed in the China Daily are a shocking illustration of the lengths some property developers will go to.
In one case several people staged a night raid on a house in Beijing, tied up the family living there, and demolished their home, burying their possession in the ruins.
In the other case, six people were injured when 13 homes were illegally destroyed.
The newspaper said five people have been detained, two are still at large.
It also quotes an official as saying more would be done to guarantee the interests of households relocated due to building work.
There is rising public anger over the scant regard paid to the rights of homeowners.
That has culminated in a series of recent suicide attempts by people forced to relocate against their will and an increasing number of small-scale protests over the issue.
One-Minute World News 
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