Baby-bashing Chinese policeman held

A policeman who is alleged to have seriously injured an infant by grabbing her and hurling her onto the ground has been detained in central China's Henan Province, local authorities said Sunday.

An investigation team has been set up in response to anger voiced by Chinese netizens at the policeman in Linzhou, Henan, said Guo Fajie, head of the public security bureau of Anyang City which governs Linzhou, reported Xinhua.

A couple, holding their seven-month-old daughter in their arms, went for a walk after supper in on July 20 when a local policeman, Guo Zengxi, unexpectedly grabbed the infant, lifted her over his head and hurled her onto the ground, according to media reports.

Guo Zengxi was likely to have been drunk, according to the reports. The Linzhou public security bureau had only handed down a 15-day confinement to him.

The injured baby was immediately sent to Anyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, and is temporarily out of danger.

"The policeman involved in the baby attack was put under criminal detention on Saturday night and was transferred to a detention centre in Anyang City this morning," said Guo Fajie.

Public security and health authorities in Linzhou have sent staff to accompany the baby to Beijing for further medical examination, according to the local government.

In July, a man in Beijing killed a toddler by lifting her from her carriage and throwing her onto the ground after quarrelling with the baby's mother and beating her up.