"It seems she was killed by the tribal people," Deputy Inspector General of Police of Sathal region V.K. Pandey told IANS.

Around 40 people Tuesday night raided Pachuwara village in Jharkhand's Pakur district -- 500 km from here -- and hacked to death Valsa John, 52, from Kerala's Ernakulam district.
Asked about the possibility of the coal mafia or Maoists being involved in the killing, Pandey said: "There is no possibility the coal mafia or Maoists killed her."

John came nearly a decade ago to Pakur district as a teacher in a mission run school. Later, she opened a school and taught students up to Class 4.

She came out in support of people who were opposing displacement due to the Panam coal mine in 2006. She earned the respect of the tribal people for spearheading the movement against Panam coal mine.

Police said she later developed a soft corner for the coal company and started staying away from the district.

"It seems local tribal people developed some grudge against her as she was staying away from the district. She had arrived at Pakur from Kerala in the first week of the month and had to face protests by tribal people," Pandey said.