Since October at least five people have died in police stations or detention houses in central China's Henan Province. All the victims died while they were being investigated for involvement in alleged civil disputes.

Liu Xinxue, 49, was a fortune-teller from Henan's Ruzhou City before he was found hanging in the detention room of a local police station early on October 2, the Oriental Outlook, a magazine affiliated to Xinhua news agency, reported.

Liu, who lived in a small village in Ruzhou, was an amateur fengshui expert and helped villagers choose places to live, burial sites or farmland.

Fengshui, literally translated as "wind-water" in English, is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the laws of both heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to help improve life by receiving positive energy.

Liu helped a local family find the remains of an ancestor after the family's tomb was raided. The family promised to reward Liu 10,000 yuan (US$1,459) if he succeeded.

Liu delivered a bag of bones and human remains on October 1 but was accused of blackmail by the family.

Police took Liu back to the police station for questioning but four hours after questioning he was found hanging in the cell. Bruises and injuries were found on the body, according to the report. There was also writing by a ballpoint pen on Liu's left arm saying he was innocent.

Liu is survived by a son and a daughter. Liu's family was allowed to see his body three days after he died. Police paid the family compensation of 400,000 yuan after reaching an agreement with them.

On October 3, a 22-year-old man from north China's Hebei Province was beaten to death in a police station in Henan's Anyang City.

Du Xuelei, the victim, had tried to gain the release of a friend arrested by police but got involved in an argument with officers and was beaten to death at the police station in city's Chuwang Town. Five officers from the police station have been detained over the death. Niu Liqiang, deputy chief of Anyang police, said.

On October 12 in Henan's Luoyang City, a man reportedly killed himself by ramming his head against a wall in an interrogation room.

Ma Jun'an, 54, was involved in a business dispute. Ma's family were told of the death two days later but police had painted the walls of the room where he died.

The head of the inquiry into Ma's case said on December 2 that no conclusions had been reached yet as they were waiting for a forensic report from Shanghai experts.

Henan's public security department has urged its police to be disciplined.

(Shanghai Daily December 16, 2008)