Protests escalate in China after student's fatal fall

Protests escalate in China after student's fatal fall

Violent protests have erupted in China after the death of a teenager sparked allegations of a possible cover-up by authorities. Videos from the northwestern province of Shaanxi show the escalating situation.

Protesters confront the police

In videos verified by CNN, dozens of protesters can be seen confronting a line of SWAT officers outside Pucheng Vocational School. Some of the demonstrators throw batons and other objects at the emergency services.

The trigger of the protests

The protests were sparked by the death of a student surnamed Dang, who was in his third year at the school. Local authorities in Pucheng maintain that Dang's death on January 2 was an accident and had no criminal background. However, there were allegations on social media that an attempted cover-up was underway.

Claims of a violent incident

In a statement distributed by state media last weekend, local authorities alleged that Dang had a verbal and physical altercation with a first-year student surnamed Guo for disturbing him in his sleep. A school official helped resolve the dispute that night.

Circumstances of Dang's death

At about 3 a.m., another student in Dang's dormitory found a wooden chair under the balcony window. The statement said: "The sash window was open and the metal grille had been removed. Dang had already fallen out of the window onto the floor."

Doubts about the official explanation

The U.S.-based human rights organization Human Rights In China reported “suspicious circumstances” that led to Dang’s death. These include witness statements describing "signs of a struggle in Dang's dormitory" and the suggestion that he "may have been pushed off the roof." Dang's family has rejected the official explanation for his death. It was also claimed that photos had been deleted from Dang's phone, Reuters reported. The family's skepticism was widely shared on social media.

Continuation of protests uncertain

It is unclear whether the protests that began Monday continued throughout the week. The situation remains tense and will continue to be monitored closely.

Reporting was by CNN editors John General and Duarte Mendonca.