Claims by fishermen that they saw bodies of infants floating in the Xiangjiang River in Hengyang city, Hunan province, has prompted a major police investigation, Xiaoxiang Morning News reported.

“You often see dead infants here, at least four times a year,” one angler surnamed Zhu said.

Some of the anglers were quoted as saying they have seen people throw bodies of infants into the river.

Liao Gaofeng, an official with Hengyang health bureau, said the bureau will cooperate with police to find out the truth.