Chinese prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against an individual who is accused of slandering a late fireman deemed as a martyr.

The individual, identified only by the surname Zeng, is said to have made 'defamatory' and 'truthful' speeches on social media against firefighter Xie Yong.

Xie, 21, fell to his death from a high-rise building while trying to put out a fire on May 12 in Huai'an, eastern China's Jiangsu Province.

Firefighter Xie Yong fell to his death this month while trying to put out a fire in Huai'an, China

The 21-year-old has been declared a martyr by the Chinese authority one day after his death

This is the first such case since the country has adopted a law in April that bans the defamation of heroes and martyrs, state media said.

According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xie plummeted 19 storeys after suffering from smoke while attempting to save civilians from a burning building.

He had apparently offered his respirator to a comrade in need, said Xinhua.

Xie died after resuscitation failed and was declared a martyr one day later.

Zeng reportedly started to spread malicious rumours about the Xie on May 14 in chatting groups on WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging app similar to Whatsapp.

Xie Yong's colleagues mourned his death during his funeral on May 14 in Huai'an, China

Another WeChat user, identified by the surname of Wang, was detained and fined for defaming the late firefighter. The picture shows Wang being questioned by the Huai'an police

Before Zeng, another WeChat user, identified by the surname of Wang, had been detained and given a 1,000 yuan (£116) fine after making 'extreme' and 'insulting' speeches against late firefighter Xie.

It's said that Zeng carried on making defamatory claims after being warned to stop by 'the others'. He was detained by the local public security bureau on May 15.

According to People's Daily, late firefighter Xie's family decided not to sue Zeng for defamation.

Therefore, the People's Procuratorate of Jiangsu Province filed a lawsuit Zeng on May 21, demanding Zeng stop the 'harming behaviour immediately' and make public apologies through media to eliminate the ill effects.

China's President Xi Jinping has ushered in several laws in the name of protecting China and the ruling Communist Party from perceived threats both internal and external

China's President Xi Jinping has ushered in several laws in the name of protecting China and the ruling Communist Party from perceived threats both internal and external, as well as presiding over a crackdown on dissent and free speech.

The law on the protection of heroes and martyrs was passed on April 27 and became effective on May 1.

The law makes it illegal to 'misrepresent, defame, profane or deny the deeds and spirits of heroes and martyrs, or to praise or beautify invasions,' state media said in a summary when it was introduced.

Anyone infringing it faces punishment in line with the law and may be investigated for criminal responsibility.

The Communist Party has long kept a tight grasp on its history, bolstering its legitimacy with tales of heroes and martyrs who gave their lives to the party's causes.

Disputing party history and questioning the deeds of heroes have already landed some historians in court.