(Minghui.org) Falun Gong practitioners in Linxia, Gansu Province, have been harassed and persecuted by the local police since last year.

On February 21, 2012, officers from the Linxia Police Department followed Mr. Chen Yongsen to another practitioner's home at Dazhaizi, Beiyuan. Mr. Chen was taken away and detained in the Hezheng County Police Department. Mr. Chen was tied on a tiger bench for ten days. He was released because the police could not get any information from him.

On the afternoon of February 10, 2012, Mr. Shi Guangping and Ms. Qi Lianying were taken away by the Linxia Police Department. They were sent to the Hezheng County Police Department. Their homes were ransacked. Mr. Shi was released after being detained for about 20 days. However, Ms. Qi is still being detained.

On February 9, 2012, Ms. Wu Hua was taken away from her home by the Linxia Police Department.

On December 18, 2011, Falun Gong materials and DVDs were seen in Majiabao, Hezheng County, Linxia. Also, large-scale messages reading “Falun Dafa Is Good” and “Heaven Will Eliminate the CCP” were posted along the road in red. All levels of police started to monitor, follow, and arrest Falun Gong practitioners.

In September 2011, officers from the Linxia Police Department went to ransack Mr. Wu Hua's home. The police found a computer, DVD burner, and DVDs in his home. An official decoded the password and found files about Falun Gong materials on the computer. Mr. Wu was taken away. The computer and DVD burner were also confiscated. Mr. Wu was released the afternoon after his son-in-law went to the police department and demanded his release.

When the police ransacked Mr. Wu Hua's home, they found a list of people who had donated money to produce Falun Gong materials. They saw Ms. Qi Lianying and Mr. Chen Yongsen on the list. Mr. Chen managed to get away after he heard the news, but Ms. Qi was arrested. The police found Teacher Fang's name on Ms. Qi's cell phone and went straight to his home to ransack it. They took away a computer, printer, and 10,000 yuan cash. Ms. Qi Lianying was released with Mr. Wu Hu that afternoon. The intention of the police was to enforce a full-scale persecution of local Falun Gong practitioners.