Beijing, March 2 (IANS) A senior Chinese police officer was sacked after a man was allegedly tortured to death at a detention centre in Henan province, a media report said Tuesday.

Two other senior police officers were removed from their posts while four policemen were placed under investigation after the suspect died Feb 21.

Zhang Guanjun, director of Lushan county's police bureau, was ordered to resign Sunday, Henan's provincial public security department said.

The bureau's deputy chief and another senior officer in charge of criminal investigations were removed from their posts, the department said late Sunday, China Daily reported.

Wang Yahui, a theft suspect, died three days after he was detained by local police.

Yao Jin, director of the political department of the country's police bureau, told a local news channel that Wang died 'after drinking some sort of water during interrogation'.

Wang's family members questioned the police version after they saw the body Feb 22.

Wang's aunt said she was shocked to see cuts and bruises all over his body.

Video footage shot by the family showed Wang's nipples were seriously wounded. Bruises and injuries were also found on his arms, head and genitals.

The family said they suspect the bruises resulted from police torture.