Beijing, July 22:

A prominent Chinese online dissident has been jailed shortly before the end of a four-year probation period, two rights organisations said today.

Du Daobin, an activist from Hubei province, was imprisoned yesterday, just ahead of the August 4 expiry of his probation period, the Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said.

“The Du Daobin case is a classic example of the authorities’ stepped-up crackdown on dissidents ahead of the (Beijing) Olympics,” the centre said.

Chinese dissidents say many people have been detained or intimidated as part of a broad crackdown by communist rulers to silence critics ahead of the Olympic Games.