Three people were injured after a man set himself on fire in a home relocation dispute in east China's Jiangsu Province Tuesday, local authorities announced Wednesday.

The man, surnamed Zeng, was sent to a hospital in Shanghai Tuesday night as the 68-year-old suffered severe burns. Zeng was out of danger, his son-in-law told Xinhua Wednesday morning.

One of Zeng's daughters suffered burns on the face and hands and another on the hands when trying to rescue their father. They are being treated at a local hospital.

Investigation showed that Zeng walked out his home and set himself on fire at about 3 p.m. when three policemen came to send a citation for his son, who splashed petrol to prevent relocation of illegally built buildings, said Li Yang, spokesman of Tinghu District in Yancheng City.

Li said the buildings were dismantled to make way for roads and all other residents and agencies have signed relocation compensation agreements.

Zeng basically agreed to the compensation on Jan. 19. But his family did not allow him to sign the agreement and this put him under tremendous pressure, according to the investigation team.