Several people have been injured in clashes between villagers and armed police in a dispute in southern China over land requisitions, the latest in a series of violent demonstrations in the region, Reuters reported. On Saturday, several hundred people blocked a road near the village of Panlong in southern Guangdong province, protesting against what they said was inadequate compensation for their land, a teacher in the town said. Several people had taunted the police, who called in paramilitary People's Armed Police as back-up, said the teacher, who declined to be identified. "These were hooligans who had been hired by the villagers," he said by telephone. Several of the young men were injured when armed police used electric batons to disperse the protesters, he said. At least two or three police were injured when the young men threw stones. Several of the young men were detained late on Saturday but had been released on Sunday, the teacher said. No shots had been fired, he said. Local officials declined to comment.
