By Li Hongmei

A woman who allegedly hacked off the ears of her six-year-old nephew has been arrested, Xinhua news agency reported Friday, in a chilling assault that police say was triggered by a family dispute.

The attack, which took place in central China's Hubei province, has echoes of a case last August in which a six-year-old boy had his eyes brutally gouged out by his aunt.

On Jan. 28, Zhang Qihui, 35, got into a fight with family members in Wanghe Village over housing construction, Xinhua said, citing local police.

Shortly after the argument, Zhang took her nephew down an alleyway and used a fruit knife to slice off his ears and cut his chin, Xinhua said. The nephew was brought to hospital and later discharged after one of his ears was reconnected.

Zhang is now in custody and an investigation is under way, the report added.