A religious leader who participated actively in the protest against the killing of Laxmanananda Saraswati last year was chased and hacked to death by unidentified assailants in Puri on Tuesday.

The police, however, ruled out any communal angle. “We suspect that he was killed over extortion money,” said Puri Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajkishore Paikray.

The police said Ramcharan Das, famous as Mauni Baba, was feeding fishes at a pond early in the morning when the assailants chased him with sharp weapons. Paikray said at least 10 injury marks were found on his body.

The police said some local goons had been extorting money from the 60-year-old leader who used to live with his wife Pratima at his Gurukripa Ashram in Puri town. His wife told the police that the criminals had threatened him a few days ago with dire consequences if he did not pay up Rs 15,000.

The police have detained one person, identified as Panchanan Sahoo, on suspicion.

A popular figure in Puri, Das was an active member of the Matha Mahanta organisation of Orissa. In the aftermath of Saraswati’s killing last year, he took the lead in the protest against the VHP leader’s murder.