The head of a central China public security bureau has been
fired for delays in the investigation and rescue of eight abducted
children.
A team from the Henan Provincial Department of Public Security
were investigating the Xichuan police bureau and could punish more
police officers after firing bureau head Xu Xin, said department
head Qin Yuhai.
Qin, also vice governor of Henan, made the remarks at a press
conference on the sidelines of the ongoing Henan legislative
session.
The failure to properly investigate the abductions showed the
local bureau had failed in its care for the public, "or they were
indifferent to people's suffering", Qin said.
"Although Xichuan police have done a lot of work, they failed to
resolve the case in a timely manner and report it to the higher
authorities, which is against the rules," he said.
Eight children, aged two to eight, were abducted in six
incidents from April 15 to Dec. 8 last year. The delays in the
investigation prompted public anxiety and criticism.
Early this month, police broke up a child trafficking gang and
detained 10 suspects accused in the serial abduction of nine
children, including eight from Xichuan and the other from
neighboring Xixia County.
All the children were returned physically unharmed to their
families.
(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2008)