Chinese state media makes rare report of assault on villagers in land dispute with officials

Villagers in eastern China were physically assaulted by “urban management officers” while blocking road construction on land that local residents say is illegally occupied, state media reported.

The Modern Express newspaper reported on Saturday that villagers in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province were obstructing construction on land which they claimed had not yet been signed over to the government.

The newspaper is owned by state news agency Xinhua, and the report circulated widely online on Monday.

Urban management officers, known informally as chengguan, are contracted security guards hired by cities and local governments to patrol streets against beggars and unlicensed hawkers.

They are often poorly disciplined and detested by ordinary citizens for their heavy-handed ways.

A number of high-profile incidents in which people were beaten to death or severely injured have resulted in major protests and even riots in many provinces.

Such incidents are rarely reported in official media.