Chinese internet addiction boot camp accused of assaulting students

An internet addiction boot camp for teenagers in eastern China is under investigation over allegations of widespread corporal punishment and physical abuse of students, according to a newspaper report.

Staff at the Yuzhang Academy in Nanchang in Jiangxi province have been accused of using extreme punishment methods on pupils, including solitary confinement, to cure them of their addiction, the Jiangxi Daily reported on Monday.

Police said in a statement on Friday that officers were investigating the allegations.

“Internet users have reported issues including corporal punishment and poor quality food at the Yuzhang Academy in our area,” the statement said. “After receiving these reports, a joint investigation group was immediately set up by five organisations to investigate and verify these allegations.”

Details of the claims went viral on the Chinese messaging app WeChat.