The local government's move stirred debate online with more than 152,873 posts discussing the issue on Sina microblog service, as of 2 pm Thursday.

While destroying the graves of ancestors is considered unacceptable, many locals are too afraid to stand up to the authorities, they commented.

Analysts see the tomb-removal campaign as evidence that local governments in Henan are ignoring public concerns.

Web users also questioned the local government's intention.

Zheng Fengtian, a professor with the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that returning graveyards to farmland is just an excuse and that the local government's true intent is to sell the land.