Kameshwar Paswan last night was at his job when some residents attacked him and beat him to death, deputy superintendent of Police (Jharia Range), R N Sharma, told reporters.
An FIR was filed against six persons in connection with the incident.
Two persons were arrested. A ration shop belonging to one of the arrested was set on fire by some local residents.
The Jharia township in Dhanbad district has been facing a water crisis for a long time, he said.