Villagers angry at verdict on fatal fire

Relatives of a villager who was burned to death in his home during a government demolition attempt reacted with anger and disbelief after a preliminary official investigation said the fire was started by the villager himself.

Zhang Jimin, a 46-year-old farmer living on the outskirts of Pingyi county, Shandong province, was burned to death in his home on Monday as local authorities tried to evict him.

The county government said in a statement on Wednesday that Zhang had purchased gasoline at a local gas station on Sept 11 and Sept 13, and a preliminary official investigation has excluded the possibility of arson.