Reports from southern China's Guangdong province say armed police have sealed off a village after opening fire on a group of protesters and killing at least two people this week.
Witnesses say police fired into a crowd late Tuesday in Dongzhou village, where at least 1,000 people were protesting inadequate compensation for land taken for the construction of a power plant.
Local residents are quoted by Reuters and the French News agency as saying Chinese authorities have surrounded the village and are not allowing them to leave.
The deputy Asia Director for Amnesty International Catherine Baber has described the reports from Guangdong as "chilling," and called for an immediate independent investigation.
The Chinese government has not commented on the matter.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.