Vehicle overturned in China as dispute between street vendors and officials turns ugly
Tempers flare, police called as urban management officers scuffle with men selling watermelons from back of a truck
Scuffles broke out and a government vehicle was overturned in northwestern China as tempers flared during a dispute between street vendors and urban management officials.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon in Xian, capital of Shaanxi province, when the officials – known as chengguan – tried to close down a number of roadside food stalls, news website youth.cn reported.
The officers claimed the vendors, including a group selling watermelons from the back of a truck, were operating in a restricted area, the report said.
As the incident escalated, several men dressed in T-shirts were seen tussling with the uniformed officers, according to images circulated online. A vehicle was also overturned during the altercation, though it is no clear who was to blame.
A video posted on Thepaper.cn shows the two groups scuffling and the van lying on its side with its windscreen shattered.