Yuan Xiangyu, a migrant man, had his left hand severed from his arm during a business dispute over a 2,000-yuan (US$241) debt owed to him by a local company on Monday.

Police would not discuss the case Wednesday but one of Yuan's friends revealed authorities are holding the attackers, who are all migrants.

Doctors managed to reattach the hand and Yuan was in stable condition last night, according to Wang Huogeng, who is sharing a hospital room with Yuan.

Yuan Jizhi, the victim's son, said the incident occurred at around 3pm on Monday when his father and he went to Jiangyang Car Repair and Refit Factory to demand the company pay off its debt.

Yuan runs a glass store in the city and several months ago he installed window panes for the factory, which is located near Youyi Road in Baoshan District, the son said.

He added the total cost of the decoration work was about 4,000 yuan.

When the project finished, Jiangyang's manager Zhu Daodong paid Yuan 2,000 yuan in cash and offered a check for the remaining 2,000 yuan, according to the son.

The check bounced, however.

After several attempts to get the company to pay off its debt, Yuan and his son rode to Zhu's company on Monday afternoon. They found the employee who wrote out the check and demanded payment.

"The employee made contact with Zhu, who arrived soon after with four men armed with wooden bars and knives," the son recalled.

He said a fight soon broke out and one of Zhu's henchmen cut off his father's hand.

Yuan's son picked up the hand that had just been cut off and took it and his father to nearby Baoshan District Central Hospital.

"I witnessed the terrible sight on Yuan's arrival," Wang said.

"The attackers were really cruel and they deserve severe punishment," he added.

(Shanghai Daily December 30, 2004)