Fruit vendor's death caused by external force: autopsy

A watermelon vendor who brawled with city management officers in central China's Hunan Province died of an intracranial hemorrhage caused by "external force," local police said Wednesday, citing autopsy results.

The Public Security Bureau of Chenzhou City said the results were based on its own autopsy and another performed by Guangdong-based Sun Yat-sen University.

The autopsy results were announced after the death of Deng Zhengjia ignited a fresh round of criticism on the unchecked violence of chengguan, or city management officers, who are responsible for miscellaneous urban issues in China.

The 56-year-old farmer died after a physical clash with chengguan officers in Chenzhou's Linwu County on July 17.

The fight occurred after Deng and his wife tried to sell watermelons at a riverside scenic spot, an action banned by chengguan officers, according to Deng's niece.

She cited a witness as saying that Deng was struck by weights from a set of scales, adding that his wife was also injured and is being treated at a local hospital.

Six chengguan officers have been detained for allegedly causing intentional injury.