Beijing  - The father of a child who fell ill during a contaminated milk scandal that rocked the country last year has been detained by Chinese authorities, a human rights group reported Saturday.

Zhao Lianhai, whose son was one of many thousands affected after drinking melamine-tainted milk powder, was taken away by police on Friday evening the US-based Human Rights in China (HRIC) said in an emailed statement.

Police also searched Zhao's house and confiscated two computers, a video recorder, a camera, a USB drive, and an address book, the group said, citing information from Zhao's wife.

According to official reports, six children died and more than 300,000 became ill from industrial chemical melamine that was added to milk powder and other Chinese milk products.

The scandal was hushed up for several months during last year's Beijing Olympics and only became public in September 2008, when hospitals were overcrowded with sick infants.

Some families have already received compensation from the companies involved in the incident.

According to HRIC, Zhao had organized an online group in order to facilitate communication with other parents who are still seeking compensation.

Zhao's detention comes as rights groups called on US President Barack Obama to use his upcoming visit to China to highlight human rights concerns. (dpa)