Henan authorities say the death of a 38-year-old mother of two who was crushed by a digger while protesting against a construction project was 'a simple accident'.
Li Li's death on Monday morning sparked national outrage after footage, shot by a witness on his mobile phone showing how she was hit by the digger, was circulated widely on the internet.
Although protesters and witnesses immediately shouted for help, the footage shows two other diggers continuing to work on the controversial canal project, which nearby residents says poses a potential safety risk to their children.
One witness said they believed Li, a laid-off worker with two young children, was deliberately killed by the authorities.
'There were so many people standing by the riverside, it's impossible that the drivers of the diggers couldn't see protesters who stood nearby,' yesterday's Southern Metropolis News quoted the witness as saying. 'It's impossible that Li slipped under the wheels [as the authorities claim]. She died because the authorities told the drivers to start the project by force, disregarding the consequences.'
Angry residents accuse authorities of secretly changing the project's blueprint and illegally taking land from their community. Protesters said the canal project, only five metres from their homes, would be a safety risk for children playing in the area.
