One person was killed and scores injured last week as police clashed with villagers in eastern China over the forced eviction of farmers from rural lands, residents and a human rights group said Tuesday.

The violence began last Thursday when about 100 hired thugs beat farmers who had resisted eviction in the city of Pizhou in Jiangsu province, the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said.

It said the farmers from Hewan village had refused to move off lands where local authorities want to build a chemical plant.

"One woman was killed and another woman was severely injured by dozens of thugs hired by the township government," a Hewan resident who gave only his surname, Yang, told AFP by phone.

The rights group also quoted local sources as saying a woman was killed.

On Friday, up to 2,000 angry villagers descended on government offices in Pizhou to protest over the issue, locals told AFP by phone.

"The whole village came to the city, at least 2,000 people, they were very vocal and angry," said a woman who witnessed the protest.

She said riot police began beating the protesters, injuring many. She refused to identify herself, saying she feared official retribution.

The rights group said about 200 police officers armed with clubs clashed with the protesters, leaving up to 50 people wounded.

AFP calls to Pizhou's government and police on Tuesday went unanswered.

China has seen a rash of violent clashes over land across the country recently, many sparked by forced evictions as officials and property developers seek to cash in on a soaring real estate market.

The government, which views social unrest as a major threat to the nation's stability, has responded by calling for authorities to take steps to cool the property market.

Local villagers have posted photos on the Internet showing large crowds protesting in Pizhou as well as documents related to the land dispute.

Authorities have since sent teams to persuade villagers not to protest, while police have tightened security in the area, said Yang, the Hewan resident.