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March 14, 2013

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Deaf rescued as gangs busted

SEVENTY deaf people have been rescued from crime gangs after police uncovered 61 criminal networks and captured 360 suspects in a crackdown sweeping 21 provinces and cities.

However, authorities said many of the deaf people refused to tell police how the gangs work because they have been brainwashed, The Beijing News reported yesterday.

The deaf gang members are subject to physical punishment if they break so-called rules, including never betraying the boss and never revealing the group's secrets, investigators found, according to the report.

Those that disobey gang rules can have an ear cut off or hand tendons severed, the report said.

Groups who fail to steal anything for three consecutive days are beaten and forced to stand or kneel overnight. They may also be starved for three days, the report said.

The deaf gang members are trained how to steal, avoid police detection and resist interrogation techniques. Gang members often use fake names so that even when they are caught they are unable to identify others, investigators told the newspaper.

It is believed many gangs have been using the Internet and social networking sites to pose as job recruiters and lure unsuspecting deaf people to places where they can easily be abducted, the paper reported.

In Anhui Province, two gang leaders abducted 10 deaf students from a school playground by pretending they could help them find work. Special education schools have been another target for gang leaders.

Once the deaf have been abducted they are banned from contacting family members.




 

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