A Forest Ranger was shot dead by unidentified assailants in naxal-hit Goilkera under Goilkera police station of West Singhbhum district tonight, police said.
The victim, Sideshwar Singh, was gunned down about one-and-a-half kilometre away from the forest dak bungalow, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Chakradharpur), Ajay Kerketta said.
Singh was living alone in the dak bungalow.
A police team that went to the spot found his belongings littered around the floor of the bungalow, he said.
Asked whether involvement of naxal group was a possibility, Kerketta said it would be difficult to comment immediately as the timber mafia could also be responsible for the killing.
"We will be able to comment only after investigation," he added.
