A coal miner from a state-owned enterprise, Zhengzhou Coal Industry Group in Henan, is suspected to have died of overwork. Recently, when family members went to the company to negotiate compensation, they were driven away by security guards using high-pressure water guns, sparking attention.
According to a report from “The New Beijing News” on July 16th, the incident took place at the Lugou Coal Mine, a subsidiary of Zhengzhou Coal Industry Group. The family members claimed that the deceased died from overwork due to continuous working hours, but the company had not actively negotiated compensation afterwards. When the family members went to the company to negotiate compensation, they were driven away by security guards using high-pressure water guns.
In the video footage, a security guard was seen holding a high-pressure water gun and spraying towards the face of a female family member. The family member staggered back under the impact of the water column, but the security guard continued to spray towards the head of the family member to drive her away.
In response, the staff at the Lugou Coal Mine stated that the deceased passed away due to illness, and the security guard used water spray on the family member because of the hot weather. They claimed that it was just a casual water play rather than the use of a water gun.
However, the Xinmi police stated that they have mediated the situation after the incident, criticizing the security guard’s actions as extreme.
The official response has sparked anger among many netizens. “It’s just another case of perfunctory handling. How exactly did they handle it? Release the video footage.” “If the boss didn’t instruct him, would he dare to act this way? Human life is at stake. Why is the security guard so arrogant? In the end, the boss is the one in charge.” “The police’s actions are too perfunctory.” “When the top sets a bad example, the subordinates will follow suit.” “This high-pressure water gun, do they think ordinary people are fools?” “An unjust act is still unjust, blaming it on the hot weather, heh, what other excuses do they have?” “If it’s hot, why don’t they spray their leaders instead?”
Some netizens revealed that the incident seemed to be suppressed online by authorities. “The first news with over a hundred thousand likes has been taken down by official media, and now there are only news with a few hundred likes.” “Just now, someone mentioned that a video has been removed. Someone has already used their power to delete it.”
Public data shows that Zhengzhou Coal Industry Group was established in 1958 and is one of the major state-owned key enterprises in Henan Province, belonging to one of the three largest coal enterprises groups in the province. The affiliated companies are spread across Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Ruzhou, Luohe, Shangqiu, Shanxi Pinglu, Hunan Xiangtan, mainly engaging in coal, power, alumina, chemical industry, building materials, railway transportation, machinery manufacturing, hotels and catering, etc.
The Lugou Coal Mine under the group is a shaft coal mine located in Yuecun Town, Xinmi City, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province.