Police said Pingdu case is arson

This sreen shot from CCTV shows a burned tent on March 21, in Dujiatuan village, Pingdu county of East China's Shandong province. A man, who was camping inside the tent near his farm to protect it from being illegally occupied, was burned to death. Three other villagers also in the tent were seriously injured.

Police in Pingdu county of East China's Shandong province have confirmed that arson was the cause of a tent fire set amid a land dispute, which resulted in the death of one villager and injuries to another three, Legaldaily.com.cn reported on Tuesday night.

Seven suspects were arrested and the investigation is ongoing. The masterminds of the arson are allegedly a village official accused of having grabbed land from local villagers and a legal representative of a real estate developer.

A local man surnamed Wang, urged by the two masterminds, called on four people to set the fire. The five were among the arrested.

Geng Fulin, 63, who was camping near his farm to protect it from being illegally occupied, was burned to death after his tent was set fire on March 21. Three other villagers who camped with him were seriously injured.

Speculation that the fire was set deliberately has caused uproar online.

Arson suspected in fatal E China fire	Farmers look to more land reform