The Naxals were apparently angry over the victim Dhansai Kovasi (65), as his two daughters had joined police force and he had refused to budge under ultras pressure asking him to force her daughters to quit the force, they said.

SP of Kanker district Ajay Yadav told PTI that on Monday night a band of around 30 Naxals attacked Kovasi's house in Karaki village of the district. They beat him mercilessly and shot him dead, he added.

He said according to information with police, some members of Alawa Sangham were also involved in Kovasi's murder and a manhunt has been launched to nab them. Yadav said a police team has been sent in search of Naxals and relatives of policemen in the district have been assured security.

Kovasi's daughters Uma and Nirmala had joined the police force in 2006 and are posted in Narayanpur and Kanker districts respectively, police said.