Pathanamthitta (Kerala) | A tribal chieftain who had been missing for more than a month was found dead inside a forest near Konni here on Friday, police said.

The deceased, Mohandas (70), a tribal chieftain from Kokkathode near Konni, had been missing since June 26.

According to police, his body was found hanging from a tree near a cliff deep inside the forest.

The decomposed body would be shifted to a hospital for postmortem, after which the remains will be handed over to the family.

Police said extensive searches had been carried out over the past month with the assistance of members of the tribal community, who frequently enter the forest to collect forest produce. Drones were also deployed as part of the search operation.

Mohandas' family had claimed that he was facing a case related to a dispute over work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

According to the family, he had recently received a court notice in connection with the case, following which he entered the forest and went missing. Police said further investigation is underway.