Police chief or deputy chief should resign if any prisoner under his jurisdiction dies in prison without adequate reasons in central China's Henan Province, according to a new regulation of the provincial public security bureau.

Police officers directly involved in torture or forcing confessions shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law, the new rule said.

The new rule was issued this week after a criminal suspect allegedly died of forced confession in Lushan County, Pingdingshan city of Henan Province in February, police officers said.

Wang Yahui, a prisoner who was arrested on Feb. 18 on theft charges in Lushan county, died during an interrogation on the night of Feb. 21.

The provincial procurator and public security bureau launched an investigation after media reports quoted Wang's relatives as saying Wang had bruises on his body, and the police chief of Lushan county was ordered to resign on March 1.