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Beijing police are investigating an ambush attack on Fang Zhouzi known as China's "science cop" for his battles against pseudo-science and academic misconduct.

Fang was attacked a week ago by two men on a street after he finished a TV interview near his home in Beijing.

The attack on the "science cop" has aroused public debate on how to protect people's freedom of speech and personal safety.

A commentary in the "Southern Metropolis Daily" says police should take preemptive measures to protect those who uncover instances of professional misconduct.

The article quotes Fang as saying that he often received intimidating calls and e-mails and was once followed by malicious strangers. The "science cop" said he reported the incidents to the police several times, but they told him they could not intervene as no real harm was done.

The commentary points out that Fang's disclosures of professional misconduct have shamed and angered some well-know executives such as Tang Jun, the former head of Microsoft China.

Fang said he suspected that the ambush attack against him was organized by someone who wanted revenge.

Last month, a journalist who has worked with Fang to uncover acts of professional misconduct, was also attacked in Beijing in a similar manner. Police are still investigating the case.

The commentary says these attacks have reminded society of the urgency to protect people's freedom of speech and personal safety. It goes on to say that social justice and ethics will be sacrificed if whistle blowers like Fang are often threatened or attacked for publicizing their findings.

The commentary also stresses that police should seriously take into account individuals' safety concerns and provide special protection for them after evaluation their requests for protection.