Detained for premier petition (2)

Sun Bangjian, another petitioner, said that dozens of villagers took part in the silent protest that lasted only three minutes and did not cause trouble.

The 0.67-square-kilometer land acquisition involves more than 2,000 villagers.

The township government expropriated the land and allowed the construction of a new coal cleaning plant that severely affected the nearby farm plots, caixin said.

A media officer with the county government, surnamed Pan, told the Global Times Wednesday that local police tried to detain the other three who led the petition, but could not find them.

"Liang's husband applied for the temporary release of Liang, who cares for a family elder," Pan said, adding that after the incident during Wen's visit, provincial disciplinary inspectors were sent to the county to investigate the dispute, but the villagers did not tell the truth.

Village head, Xiao Guoxian, told the Global Times that villagers were telling the truth and that their lives had been affected by the coal plant's operation.

The city police of Zhaotong are probing the case, said Pan.

"Liang might return to detention, but the county police's decision might be revoked if the investigation proves her innocent," Pan added.

Calls to the county police went unanswered, while the city police turned down interview requests from the Global Times.