Squad of middle-aged women carrying out enforced demolition.
Chinese police are investigating reports that middle-aged women were paid 200 yuan (S$43) each to demolish homes for a new development, a government official said, sparking anger about one of the country’s most common causes of unrest.
Forced demolitions are a frequent trigger of anger in China, with local governments and developers are often accused of using thugs to carry out demolition orders and of not paying proper compensation.
The “auntie demolition team”, as described by the state-run China News Service, harassed residents and destroyed doors and windows in the city of Shangqiu in central Henan province in early January. There were twenty women in the team and each was paid about 200 yuan.
Pictures online showed white-haired women brandishing sticks in what appeared to be a building.
“The case has been put on file and the public security department is investigating now. The final result is not out yet,” an official with the Zhecheng government told Reuters by telephone.
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