Local stabilizing official shot dead in Sichuan

A photo of the murder suspect released by the police.[Photo/chinanews.com]

Zhang Wei, the vice director of Xinlong County's Stabilization Office at Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, was shot dead upon returning from a work assignment on June 14, China News Service reported on its website Wednesday.

Zhang was of Tibetan ethnicity and was born in 1978. He was sent to deal with villagers' digging Chinese caterpillar fungus, a precious local specialty, in a mountain pasture in May.

The police investigated and concluded the case was an intentional homicide of a vindictive nature. Tibetan Xue Jia from Langzhu Village, Tongxiao Township in the county, was named as a suspect.

The 35-year-old suspect has fled. The police issued a wanted circular on Wednesday, warning that the suspect is dangerous and probably carries with him a gun. A reward of 500,000 yuan (about $80,000) is being offered for information leading to his arrest.