Thousands in Wuhan undergo mandatory DNA tests after missing student found dead

Thousands of university teachers and students in the city of Wuhan have been ordered to undergo DNA tests after police found the body of a missing female student.

Hongshan district police in central China’s Hubei province on Tuesday opened a criminal investigation after they discovered the student’s body under a bridge spanning a dried-out river, according to .

The victim, identified as Chen Xin, 20, was a student at Luojia College in Wuhan University. She was reported missing last Monday evening.

As part of a sweeping manhunt, students at Hubei Galaxy Information Technology College on Tuesday lined up to register their identification information and give blood for DNA tests conducted jointly by police officials and medical staff, the newspaper reported.

A police officer overseeing the process told the paper that male teachers were also required to take part. Quoting a teacher at the school, the report added that thousands of male students and teachers from Luojia College and three other schools sharing the campus would be required to submit to DNA tests.

The universities involved have either refused to discuss the case or referred inquiries to the authorities.