Several officers from the chengguan, or urban management authority, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, have been suspended after allegedly beating a watermelon seller on the head, the city government said on Sunday.

A struggle erupted on Thursday evening between Wu Wei, who sells watermelons in the city's Daowai district, and several chengguan raiding unlicensed businesses.

Wu was beaten on the head when he approached the officers to get his scales, which had been confiscated, according to residents and store owners who witnessed the incident. Witnesses said Wu was hit on the head with a handheld radio.