A 13-month-old baby has been crushed to death beneath the wheels of a car belonging to family planning officials, state media have reported.

Eleven officials from Rui’an birth control office near Wenzhou in eastern Zhejiang province had driven to his home to fine his parents for breaching China’s strict rules on births, according to a briefing from the local propaganda officials.

The baby’s father, Chen Liandi, 39, became agitated and forcefully obstructed the team, while his wife, Li Yuhong, agreed to go with them so they could continue their “thought work”, the short news report claimed.

It said police were investigating the death of the little boy, which was described only vaguely.

According to the report, he had been in the arms of his father. But after the officials started their vehicles, he was found crushed under one of the cars. Officials took him to hospital but doctors were unable to save him.

China has reported growing calls for an end to the “one-child” policy in recent years, largely due to concerns about the speed at which the population is aging. But the exposure of controversial cases has also angered many.

More: Baby ‘Crushed to Death’ by Chinese Birth Control Officials’ Car