A 14-year-old boy died mysteriously in Sichuan, China.
He was found dead outside his school dorm. There were scars and bruises all over his body.
The Luzhou City government blocked the scene and initially did not allow the family to examine the body. It insisted that he committed suicide.
Local residents protested the government’s actions. They were suppressed by police.
“As long as we say the child was beaten to death, we would be arrested and labeled as rumormongers,” said a local resident.
Some said that the boy was beaten to death by the sons of local officials, who lived in his dorm. Those include the sons of the school principal and the police chief.
A police autopsy ruled out homicide. But locals and Chinese netizens are unconvinced. The remains have been cremated so no further examination can take place.
Local authorities announced a 12-day power cut. Residents think the move is to stop the news from spreading.