Authorities in a southern Chinese township arrested 13 people linked to the police station attack last Friday. The attack took place in Hunan province and surprisingly involved hundreds of villagers. 

According to the police, the 13 people arrested were among the community members who illegally detained officials and police officers after storming into a Hunan police station and government building.

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The Shuangfeng county government in the province of Hunan put up a public notice demanding for the lawbreakers to turn themselves in and receive leniency in return.

According to a statement provided by state media, the police said the dispute began following the death of a 28-year-old woman named Cao Hui from the village of Yanhe in Shuangfeng County last month.

Officials concluded that the death was due to pesticide poisoning, but relatives insisted that Cao's husband had been involved in the death, according to the BBC.

On Thursday, Hunan residents were so angered by the way the police handled Cao's death. Her blood relatives brought her body to her mother-in-law's residence for display, beat her husband, wrecked his furniture and put up banners to attract attention to her death, reported China's Xinhua news agency.

The relatives, together with supporters, attacked and even detained government officials who went to the morgue for evidence.

As a result, the town's senior officials had to intervene, but they were met with bricks and beer bottles. They also had no choice but to kneel in Cao's mourning hall, according to the county government.

Protesters by the hundreds joined the young woman's relatives in attacking Yanhe's police station early Friday morning.

In order to bring back order and negotiate for the release of the detained officials by late afternoon, up to 900 police officers were deployed, reported UPI.

During the protest, villagers blocked the road, threw rocks and stones, sprayed pepper water and flattened the tires of a police vehicle to prevent exit of the police officers.

By late Friday, the 13 protesters were arrested, and police said they have restored order to the situation.

The latest violence against local officials show the public's distrust in their handling of investigations and disputes, therefore increasing public hostility, according to The Associated Press.

Tagshundreds attack police station, China Women, China violence, Shuangfeng county government, Hunan Province