Mass protests erupted in Jiangyou, Sichuan, after a brutal school bullying case that reportedly implicated local police in a cover-up.

On August 3, a video surfaced online showing several young women beating and humiliating another girl inside an abandoned building. In the footage, the attackers punch, kick, and forcibly strip the victim, recording and uploading the entire assault online. The victim suffered physical injuries and severe psychological trauma. According to online posts by the victim’s relatives, her parents are both deaf and mute. After the incident, they repeatedly sought help by reporting to the local police station, but never received a clear or positive response.

Rumors online suggest that the attackers’ parents have connections with local officials and police, leading to a lack of punishment after the incident. This perceived injustice sparked public outrage, with many netizens questioning the authorities’ handling of the case.

On the afternoon of August 4, a large number of citizens gathered in front of the Jiangyou municipal government building to support the victim’s family and demand harsh punishment for the perpetrators. Videos from the scene show individuals in black clothing directing the response, followed by police forcibly dispersing the crowd and arresting multiple citizens. Those detained were reportedly loaded into livestock transport trucks, prompting onlookers to chant “violent law enforcement!”

Despite police roadblocks later that evening, crowds of citizens continued to gather, singing the national anthem to show solidarity with the victim and express dissatisfaction with the authorities’ conduct. To contain the situation, the Mianyang city government deployed special police forces to reinforce local authorities in Jiangyou.

In the early hours of August 5, citizens remained gathered around government offices and on several streets. Police began using violent tactics, beating and arresting protesters. Videos from the scene show officers operating in groups, dispersing crowds with pepper spray and forcibly detaining isolated individuals. Many were injured in the clashes, with some seen covered in blood. One citizen attempted to livestream the situation on Douyin (Chinese TikTok), but was quickly surrounded and beaten by multiple police officers; the livestream was cut off amid the chaos.

Meanwhile, police launched “sweeping operations” at various public venues across Jiangyou, deploying officers in shopping malls and karaoke bars to check citizens’ phones and IDs. Photography and filming were strictly prohibited, and information was tightly controlled. Around 3 a.m., netizens reported the appearance of several suspected military signal-jamming vehicles on Jiangyou’s streets, believed to be used to block internet access and prevent protest videos from spreading. Related videos on social media were also quickly deleted.