Five suspects have been detained by authorities in Central China after six individuals infected with HIV were hired to harass residents into leaving their homes to make way for new construction projects.

The incident, which took place in the Henan province, sparked anger and debate among China's Internet users on Tuesday highlighting continued widespread discrimination in the country against those living with HIV and AIDS.

Li Gejun, deputy head of the propaganda office in Wolong, a district of Nanyang, told CCTV that the Yi'an Real Estate Company hired the patients "in order to achieve its goal of speedy demolition"...