A villager in Linyi, Shandong Province was burned to death in his house on Monday after a conflict between him and a group allegedly hired by the local government to enforce a demolition order.

Zhang Jimin, a 46-year-old villager from Pingyi county in Linyi, was burned to death Monday morning while the demolition squad tossed bricks and gasoline-filled bottles into his house, Zhang Jihe, his cousin, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"He was burned to death by the thugs after he locked himself in the house, worried that the group would assault him," Zhang Jihe said.

The demolition squad included some 50 thugs of a gang while over 100 residents witnessed the conflict, he said.

Pictures posted by Zhang Dezhi, the victim's nephew, on Sina Weibo show black smoke coming out of the house and fire within the house. Zhang Jimin's left hand was badly charred with his legs bent.

Police have detained several people allegedly involved in the conflict, without naming them, according to a statement issued by the county government's publicity department through its official Sina Weibo account on Tuesday.

An investigation team has been set up to look into the case, the statement read.

Li Qingdong, Pingyi police spokesman, refused to comment. However, an unnamed Pingyi police official told news site thepaper.cn on Tuesday that preliminary investigation shows that Zhang Jimin burned himself, adding that he did not know whether there was a forced demolition during the confrontation.

A witness surnamed Gao told the Global Times that the gang was prepared to throw gas-filled bottles since they brought fire extinguishers.

The local government attempted to build a road that will occupy part of Zhang Jimin's residence, Zhang Jiliang, another cousin of the victim, told the Global Times.

However, Zhang Jimin was unsatisfied with the compensation being offered by the local government, 60 yuan ($9.4) per square meter, which was far less than the current market price, Zhang Jihe said.

His wife, Pan Jinhui, was "kidnapped" by the demolition squad on Monday and has been hospitalized after being beaten up by the squad, according to Zhang Jihe.

In recent years, forced demolitions have become a widely discussed topic in Chinese society.

In October 2014, six construction workers were burned to death in a clash between hundreds of villagers and armed men hired by a construction company over a land dispute in Jinning county, Yunnan Province, after eight construction workers were tied up by angry villagers and drenched with gasoline.