The death of a teenage boy has ignited violent protests in Pucheng, a city in north-west China, the BBC has verified through video evidence.
Footage shared on social media shows protesters throwing objects at police, while officers are seen beating some demonstrators in Shaanxi province.
Authorities stated that the boy, surnamed Dang, died on January 2 after falling from his school dormitory in what they described as an accident.
However, allegations of a cover-up began circulating online, fueling public outrage.
The protests erupted soon after the incident and reportedly lasted for several days before subsiding earlier this week.
The BBC has found no evidence of ongoing demonstrations since then.
Public protests are not uncommon in China, but authorities have become especially cautious about them since the 2022 “White Paper” protests against COVID policies, which included rare public criticism of the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping.
State media has remained silent about the events in Pucheng, and any references to the protests have been heavily censored on Chinese social media.
However, several videos have emerged on platforms like X, and the BBC has confirmed they were filmed at the Pucheng Vocational Education Centre.
When contacted, a representative from the Pucheng government’s publicity department denied the existence of protests, and an official responsible for media inquiries did not respond.
In a statement earlier this week, local authorities explained that Dang, a third-year student at the education centre, was woken up at night by other students chatting in his dormitory.
Following an argument and physical altercation with another boy, a school official reportedly resolved the matter. Later that night, another student found Dang’s body at the foot of the dormitory building.
Authorities described the incident as “an accident where a student fell from a height at school,” adding that police investigations and an autopsy ruled out criminal activity.
However, unverified allegations circulated online, claiming Dang took his own life after being bullied.
Dang’s family reportedly alleged inconsistencies between the injuries on his body and the official account. They also claimed they were not allowed sufficient time to examine his body.
The allegations sparked anger among locals, leading to protests involving hundreds of people.
Videos show mourners placing flowers and offerings at the school’s entrance, performing traditional rituals such as throwing pieces of paper from a rooftop.
Other clips depict demonstrators storming a building, clashing with police, and shouting, “Give us the truth.”
A verified video shows a school official being confronted and shoved by protesters, while others reveal damaged offices and barricades being pushed down at the school entrance.
In some footage, protesters are seen throwing objects like traffic cones at retreating police officers, who responded by tackling and beating people with batons.
Several protesters appeared bloodied in the aftermath.
Social media reports suggest a heightened police presence in Pucheng since the protests, with no further demonstrations reported.
Authorities have also urged the public not to “create rumours, believe in rumours, or spread rumours.”
Source-BBC
