(Clearwisdom.net) Note: The following is a shortened version of a longer and more detailed article that appeared on the Minghui.org website (Chinese version of Clearwisdom.net).

Ms. Liang Huilan is a Falun Gong practitioner from Wukongsi Village in Songgezhuang Town, Laishui County, Hebei Province. Her sister Ms. Liang Huiqin, is a practitioner from Wanggezhuang Village in Songgezhuang Town. On July 21 1999, a day after the persecution officially began, 49-year-old Ms. Liang Huilan and her 31-year-old sister, Ms. Liang Huiqin went to Beijing to clarify the truth. They were arrested and detained at a police station.

On the second day, they were taken to the Beijing Chaoyang District Women's Prison. The prison detained Ms. Liang Huilan, Ms. Liang Huiqin and another Falun Gong practitioner, Ms. Wei Fenglan, without any legal documents. After being held at the prison for nine days, policemen from Laishui County Police Department came and took them back. The deputy chief Liu Yaohua (male) violently beat them, then handcuffed and stuffed them into the police van.

Once they arrived at the Laishui County Police Department, officers ordered them to kneel down on rods with spikes on them. Twelve strong young policemen wearing boots then punched and kicked them. After the brutal beating, they took the practitioners to the local detention center. That same night, the County Party Secretary brought a journalist to interrogate them. They didn't cooperate with the plan to defame Dafa, so Liu Yaohua then became angry and slapped them.

On the second day, Songgezhuang County Governmental officers, including Fang Yongwu (male) and a few others kicked Ms. Liang, her sister and Ms. Wei Fenglan to the ground and continued brutally beating them. They used their heavy boots to kick Ms. Liang Huilan in the face, and her left eye started bleeding instantly. These vicious people continued slapping her face despite all the blood. Ms. Liang Huiqin was beaten until blood was spraying out from her nose and mouth. The scene was horrendous.

Afterwards, Songgezhuang Town Party Secretary Ji Jianzhong(male), and the Township Mayor Wan Yuguo (male) called them to a room, and asked them, "Are you still going to practice Falun Gong?" When they replied "Yes," the two officials then whipped them violently with electrical wires that were woven into ropes. Their backs, buttocks and thighs became very swollen.

Ms. Liang Huilan's condition was very serious. Her face and eye looked terrible, and was blue and purple. Ms. Wei Fenglan's face was also distorted. The policemen and town officials involved were afraid people would find out about the brutal beating, so they detained the practitioners for another 15 days.

While they were being illegally held and tortured, their families were forced to pay hefty fines. Everyone was forced to pay three thousand yuan, and six hundred in detention fees. After they were released from the detention center, they were taken to the Town Government for another 15 days of detention. It has been more than two months since they had seen their homes.

In early April 2001, town officials came to illegally arrest Liang Huiqin and take her to the County Party School for brainwashing. Her family was worried about more brutal persecution, so they paid three thousand yuan and were allowed to take her home.