An RTI activist actively involved in exposing blackmarketing, hoarding and corruption in development schemes, was shot dead in Bihar's Lakhisarai district, police said today.

Ram Vilas Singh, in his mid 50s, was killed by unidentified people at his native Bhabhangama village under Amhara panchayat, barely 5 km from the district headquarters of Lakhisarai.

Although Lakhisarai police downplayed Singh's murder by describing it as a simple case of rivalry with a powerful villager, RTI activists are not ready to buy the police theory, who say he was killed for exposing blackmarketers and hoarders.

According to Singh's family, he had had recently received a threat call and a complaint had also been lodged.

A few months back another RTI activist was killed in Begusarai district of Bihar.