Qian Yunhui, the 53-year-old director of Zhaiqiao Village, Leqing, Zhejiang Province, died after being hit by a truck. Villagers whispered, "Our director was lifted and thrown in front of the truck by four men." Posts quickly emerged on the Internet with titles like "Biggest injustice in the history of Zhaiqiao, Leqing."

By contrast, news Web portals summed up Qian's death in a few stark sentences: "In Puqi Town, Leqing, a traffic accident occurred, one person died."

Who knows whether this was an accident or not? Some people say "a virtuous village director was assassinated in cold blood" while others claim "this is merely a traffic accident which malevolent people link to Qian's petition work." Which is true? Who can we trust?

The public wants to know what happened in Zhaiqiao Village but the local government has been slow to respond.

Of course this incident is suspicious: The truck was going the wrong way, the camera at the intersection failed to record the incident, and the body was at right angles to the kerb.

Before he died on the roadside on a winter's night, Qian had "spent 6 years petitioning on behalf of fellow villagers in Zhaiqiao for adequate farmland compensation."

As one netizen wrote, "I have to post the truth so the public can understand and so that people's rights will be better protected in the future."

The truth must not be hidden. Was this death intentional? Was Qian Yunhui "thrown under the wheels of a truck because he kept on making petitions?"

These questions must be answered. The local Leqing government must withdraw and an independent third party be appointed to carry out the investigation.

Rumors and anger will not be dispelled until the truth is brought to light.

This article was first published at Yanzhao Metropolis Daily in Chinese.