SHANGHAI – Relatives of those killed in a stampede on New Year’s Eve in Shanghai, on Monday staged a protest to demand prompt compensation and the release of victims’ bodies, a news report said.
The report said that dozens of family members gathered outside the gate of the municipal government building.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
It noted that photographs shared on microblogging site Weibo appeared to show dozens of family members staging similar demonstrations in Shanghai on previous days.
Police have interrogated dozens of people who posted critical comments online about the stampede in an effort to contain rumours and maintain social order.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
No fewer than 36 people were killed and 49 injured after panic broke out 25 minutes before midnight on Wednesday at a crowded square along the city’s famed Huangpu River waterfront.
The city official said the crowds were trying to move up a staircase clashed with others trying to move down it.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
According to the city officials, many of the victims’ bodies are being kept in funeral homes as investigations into the stampede continue.
A spokeswoman for the Shanghai municipal government told newsmen that all bodies have been properly taken care of.
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According to local and national funeral management regulations, all the bodies will be cremated in Shanghai.
The spokeswoman refused to provide information on compensation arrangements or date of expected release for the remains of any of the victims.
But the remains of Malaysian student Tan Wei, who was killed in the stampede, was expected to arrive by plane at Kuala Lumpur’s international airport.
Local families at the protest on Sunday, demanded the same quick handling for their loved ones as well as prompt compensation.
Meanwhile, the officials remained firm on not releasing the bodies of Chinese nationals.
Shanghai officials said that most of the victims were young and over two-thirds were female.
In addition to the Malaysian student, the bodies of three Taiwanese nationals have been identified by Shanghai authorities.
A government spokesman said at a press conference that it would coordinate all parties to properly handle the matter.
It noted that it is unclear what would happen to the remains of Taiwanese nationals.
Police however, admitted they underestimated the number of people who would attend the New Year’s celebration.
“Police failed to expect the number of people for this event,’’ Shanghai’s Huangpu branch police Deputy Commander Cai Lixin said. (dpa/NAN)
