(Minghui.org) A 68-year-old villager was beaten in broad daylight by three officers from the local Judicial Administrative Office on July 14, 2014, in Hebei Province. He sustained ruthless kicks and punches to the head and body, was dragged down the road, then beaten unconscious.

He was later taken to a brainwashing center setup for Falun Gong practitioners. There, he was detained for 15 days without any legal procedure.

Mr. Gao's injuries 20 days after the beating

Illegal Search Leads to Vicious Beating

On the morning of July 14, 2014, four officers from the Nanmeng Township Judicial Administrative Office and a handful of officers from the local police station, led by the Judicial Administrative Office director Zhang Junsheng and police station director Cui, went to Pijiaying Village of Nanmeng Township in search of Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Gao Junfeng. They were led to Mr. Gao's home by village security officer Wang Junguo.

Mr. Gao opened the door and the officers rushed in and began taking pictures.

Mr. Gao demanded their names and identification, but they refused out of fear, they said, for having their identities exposed online.

They searched and ransacked the entire house. They confiscated two pictures of Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi, over a dozen Falun Gong books, several Falun Gong tape recordings, and some computer software.

Mr. Gao and his wife asked them to return the books as they were leaving. Three of the officers then turned and tried to snatch Mr. Gao and his wife. When Mr. Gao resisted, they picked him up and carried him away from the house.

They pinned Mr. Gao to the ground, and demanded that he quit practicing Falun Gong. When he refused, the officers began beating him.

Torture demonstration: beating

After the beating, the officers lifted him up, carried him a little ways and dropped him to the ground again. They then grabbed one leg each and dragged him over 100 meters (100+ yards) down the road.

They dropped Mr. Gao to the ground again and pummeled his head until he lay still.

Mr. Gao could later only remember lying on the floor of a car, barely conscious.

The officers took Mr. Gao to the Langfang Brainwashing Center. Mr. Gao had cuts and bruises all over his body, and his head was covered in bumps. He had lost his shoes, his shirt was torn badly, and his pants were pulled up to his knees.

He was in so much pain that it was difficult to breathe. On top of that, for the next three days he was unable to eat or drink.

However, despite the circumstances, Mr. Gao refused to renounce his belief in Falun Gong. He made a point to remind the staff that he was being held illegally: “I will not transform,” he said. “Take me home. You have no right to keep me here.”

Mr. Gao was detained for 15 days before being released. This beating and detainment, however, was not his first ill encounter with local authorities.

Previous Harassment

Over a dozen police officers went to Mr. Gao's home on April 28, 2012. The director of the local Political and Legal Affairs Committee, Zhang Liqiang, knocked at his door, pretending to be the village accountant. Mr. Gao was not home at the time, but his wife believed the lie and opened the door for them.

Without showing any legal documentation, the officers rummaged through the entire house in search of Falun Gong materials. Ms. Gao, who is almost blind, was forced into a car. Another visiting relative, Ms. Liu, was also arrested and taken to the Nanmeng Township Police Station.

Later, police called Mr. Gao's son and told him to come retrieve his mother. Ms. Liu was taken home by officers from her local police station without any explanation for why she was arrested in the first place.

Authorities have repeatedly harassed Mr. Gao and his family since 2011, especially on so-called sensitive dates. Over the past four years, Mr. Gao and his family have been harassed without end. The family has been unable to live a normal life, and they have suffered great financial loss, as well.

Mr. Gao lives in Pijiaying Village of Nanmeng Township. Prior to practicing Falun Gong, he suffered from many illnesses including late stage tuberculosis. He started practicing Falun Gong in July 1997 and became free of health problems. He credits Falun Gong for helping him become a healthy and better person.

Officials involved in the persecution:Zhang Junsheng (张军生), director of the Judicial Administrative Station of Nanmeng Township: +86-15100673839 (cell)Niu Yuefeng (牛岳峰), secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee of Bazhou City: +86-15100700589(cell), +86-0316-7863899(home)Zhang Liqiang (张立强), secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee of Nanmeng Township: +86-15832689958Sun Bin (孙宾), former director of the Nanmeng Township Judicial Administrative Station: +86-13700361355Zhao Donghui (赵东辉), deputy director of the Nanmeng Township Judicial Administrative Station: +86-13483610033