Zigong (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Sichuan police assaulted and detained five villagers who joined a demonstration by more than 2,000 farmers against inadequate land compensation.

On April 20 Liu Zhengyou, Mao Xiulan, Chen Shoulin, Chen Xiaoling and Deng Shufen were among those protesting in the city square, carrying banners and distributing flyers detailing their complaints. More than 700 police were sent to the scene and began confiscating the materials and detaining the representatives. The five were forced into police vans and injured in the process.

Mr Liu and Mr Mao were treated in hospital for injuries to the abdomen, neck, feet and head, it said. The injuries of the other three were not specified.

A Zigong government official on May 4 confirmed the demonstration happened but denied anyone was assaulted or detained.

"Their farmland was taken away and they were given low compensation," the official said. "The only thing the government can do is console the farmers and step up our propaganda work. We will not increase our compensation."

Clashes between farmers and local authorities in Sichuan are becoming more common as disputes over land compensation and rising tax burdens trigger social unrest.

Farmers in Zigong have been fighting with the local government since 1993, when authorities took over 940 hectares of fertile farmland to establish a hi-tech industrial zone. Villagers were given a resettlement fee of 8,000 yuan (almost 723 euro) and a monthly allowance of up to 90 yuan (almost 8 euro) - which they say is not enough for what they gave up.

More than 80 demonstrators had been detained since the dispute started and a further 20 injured in clashes with authorities.