Fu Xiancai was paralyzed from the shoulders down after a blow to the back of the neck shortly after he was called for police questioning on June 8, Human Rights in China said.

Police had questioned him about an interview he gave to German television in which he criticized China's handling of the resettlement of up to one million people to make way for the Three Gorges Dam.

On Wednesday the head of the Zigui county police in Hubei province notified Fu's son that a forensic investigation concluded that Fu's injuries were self-inflicted and likely the result of a fall, the rights group said.

Although a written decision said Fu could appeal, the police strongly urged the family not to pursue such action, it said.

Zigui police refused to comment when contacted by AFP.

Fu was interviewed by ARD television on May 19 on the difficulties locals faced because of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's biggest hydroelectric project.

He described his struggle to obtain compensation promised to those who had to leave their homes to make way for the dam, Jobst Plog, the head of the broadcaster which oversees the ARD office in Beijing, said earlier.

Fu told reporters: "I have gone to Beijing 15 times to complain to the government, and I have complained to the local and regional authorities 50 times. They have never helped me. On the contrary, I have been threatened and beaten."

Human Rights in China expressed concern over the fairness of the investigation and urged a new independent inquiry.

"In light of strong international concern and attention to Fu's case, HRIC calls on the provincial authorities to remove the Zigui PSB's (Public Security Bureau) authority in this case and order a new, transparent and independent investigation," it said.

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