Ranchi: The 28-year-old man who was shot and fatally injured near Kokar on Saturday evening has been identified as chemistry teacher of Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School Shiv Prasad.

Police suspect an extramarital affair and dispute with his in-laws led to the murder.

Shiv, a resident of Krishnapuri in Chutia who also taught students at a coaching centre near Gossner College, was on his way to Kokar apparently to meet his girlfriend around 8.20pm when he was shot at barely half a kilometre from Lalpur thana. He was rushed to RIMS with a single bullet lodged in his back, but was declared brought dead.

City SP Aman Kumar said the chemistry teacher had tied the knot in Dhanbad four years ago, but did not live with his wife Pushplata and twin daughters.

"Shiv Prasad's father Deendayal Prasad has alleged that his father-in-law, Vijay Prasad, was regularly threatening him. The victim's family is pointing a finger at his in-laws in this murder case. We are investigating the allegations," the SP said.

Deendayal on Sunday also lodged a formal complaint against eight persons, including his son's widow Pushplata, father-in-law Vijay Prasad, mother-in-law Kiran Devi and brother-in-law Vikas Kumar.

Sources in police said two assailants came on a scooter and fired a round at Shiv while he was speaking to his younger brother on phone. Shiv had parked his own bike on the roadside. "We are searching for possible CCTV camera footage on the Lalpur-Kokar stretch," said a policeman.

A senior officer at Lalpur thana said Shiv's personal life was troubled probably because of his extramarital affair. "The father of two was seeing an unmarried girl from Kokar. He was possibly on his way to meet the girl when the shooting took place. We are probing the link between the murder and love affair," the officer added.

A postgraduate in chemistry, Shiv had joined Guru Nanak school in Hindpiri in 2014.

"He was a good teacher and very sincere towards his students. He was reticent and soft-spoken by nature. However, of late, he had been disturbed over something. We are shocked at his death. He will be sorely missed," said school principal Manohar Lal.

Charred woman

The charred body of a 20-year-old married woman, Rekha Devi, was found in Pandrawani village in Tamar, around 70km from the capital, on Sunday. Police suspect murder and have sent the body to RIMS for autopsy.

Body in field

Dhanbad: The body of a 40-year-old man was found in a field in Jhargrahi area of Baghmara block, 25km from coal town, on Sunday. He was later identified as Harendra Singh, a daily wage earner. Police suspect murder and have sent the body for autopsy. Residents blocked the Katras-Jhargrahi road for more than half an hour, demanding arrests.