His partner, Ji Xinkai, who suffered serious injuries during the same attack, has been recovering well, according to police.

Ji and fellow officer Chen Weiguo, were investigating reports of prostitution in their local district when the assault took place. The officers had just arrested a group of prostitutes, when three assailants approached them demanding the women be released.

The three men assaulted Chen and Ji with bars and bricks, inflicting serious head injuries on both officers.

"To stop the three men from escaping, Chen called for police back-up through his transmitter-receiver," said Zhou Jianguo, deputy director with the Pudong New Area Public Security Sub-bureau.

"A suspect stabbed Chen while one of his accomplices continued striking Chen's head."

The vicious attack motivated some 1,500 policemen to hunt down the fugitives.

"It took about 35 hours to catch all seven (including the prostitutes)," said Tian Weihua, director of the Pudong New Area Public Security Sub-bureau. The three assailants named Liu Guixi, Han Guitao, Han Guicheng are all from Northeast China's Jilin Province, all three were charged on February 11, according to police.

Two of the three men also injured three other people who were assisting police in investigating prostitution on January 19 in Shanghai's Hongkou District.

Local policemen do not usually carry pistols on patrol unless handling violent cases.

"However, as a result of the incident, police will now be equipped with pistols while on patrol," Tian said.

(China Daily February 12, 2003)