Journalists have not been spared by riot police at the Wukan village after they were attacked and forcefully evicted from the fishing village on Wednesday even as the protests continued for the second day.

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Reporters from the South China Morning post newspaper as well as Chinese language newspaper, Ming Pao, were on Wednesday arrested and detained while in their line of duty.

According to the two news agencies, a group of men, some wearing police uniforms, forced themselves into a home where they were interviewing victims of the siege. Even after the reporters had complied with police orders to lie on the ground, they were reportedly still assaulted by the individuals.

"At least 20 people knocked on the door, broke it down and requested us to kneel down. One of the reporters didn't manage to kneel down and was shoved to the floor. Another reporter was punched and I was slapped twice," said one of the reporters.

The reporters were afterward taken to a police station and interrogated for hours. According to one of the publications, the reporters were forced to sign forms admitting that they were reporting illegal content about Wukan and that they would stop immediately.

They were later taken to the Hong Kong border, according to both newspapers.

The BBC said that some of its journalists were also prevented from entering the village.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association has condemned the act and called on the Hong Kong government to "take effective measures to protect the rights and safety of Hong Kong journalist working in the mainland."

The incident comes at a time when villagers in Wukan are protesting a three-year jail sentence issued to the village's Chief Lin Zulian for corruption.

Tagschina, Wukan Village, riot police, Hong Kong Journalists Association, South China Morning Post, Ming Pao