(Minghui.org) At least 25 Falun Gong practitioners in Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province were arrested on April 20, 2022. Some police officers were wearing protective gear during the arrests, and they deceived the practitioners into opening their doors by claiming they were there to investigate if the homeowners had close contact with people who had tested positive for COVID-19.

Many of the arrests were carried out by officers from Huizhan Police Station. The sweep started at 6 a.m. and lasted until afternoon. Most of the practitioners have been released at the time of writing, as the local detention centers refused to accept them due to the pandemic. One officer claimed that over 100 practitioners were arrested, but the detailed name list is still being investigated.

Ms. Yuan Lixue was the first to be arrested, at around 6 a.m. Her Falun Gong books, informational booklets, laptop computer, and printer were confiscated. She was released at around 11 a.m.

Twelve officers from the Tieren Police Station knocked on Ms. Duan Xiaorong’s door at 6: 30 a.m. They spent the entire morning searching her home. Her Falun Gong books, photo of Falun Gong’s founder, informational materials, computer, printer, and cellphone were confiscated.

At the same time, three officers searched the home of Ms. Duan’s daughter, taking away a Falun Gong informational card and a media player with audio programs about Falun Gong. The police returned later in the day for another search, but didn’t find any more Falun Gong related items. Both the mother and daughter were released on the same day.

The police broke into Ms. Wang Fajuan’s home at 7 a.m. and arrested her, her husband, and her three-year-old granddaughter. Everything related to Falun Gong at her home was taken away. The police claimed that she had been reported for talking to people about Falun Gong at a public plaza. The three family members were released at around noon.

When the police were ransacking Ms. Zhao Qingyun’s home in the morning, another practitioner, Mr. Zheng Xinwei, happened to visit her, only to be arrested himself. The police also ransacked Mr. Zheng’s home. Both have since been released.

Other arrested practitioners included Wang Ying, Chen Hailian, Wang Xiuling, Wang Shuhua, Kong Xiushi and her daughter Wang Xiaomeng, Zhou Xianfeng, Liu Guifen, Xu Shuwen, Li Yanyun, Li Yaru, and Zhou Guilan.

There are seven practitioners whose first names are unknown, including Deng and his wife Li, Dai, Lu, Cao, Gu, and Huang.

Prior to the group arrest, another practitioner in Daqing, Mr. Liu Xingyun, was harassed on April 18, when he returned from grocery shopping. Officer Sun Aiguo claimed that he had been reported for practicing Falun Gong. They took away his Falun Gong related materials and asked about his personal information, such as when he moved to Daqing and when he retired. Mr. Liu refused to answer.