The incident took place Sunday in Nauli village, 335 km from here, when Bela Devi, a social worker, confronted some local contractors while they were illegally chopping off the trees in the area.
When the contractors, supported by some local henchmen, refused to pay heed to the woman's plea, she threatened to go to the police. Incensed at this, the men attacked her with axes and hacked her to death, an official said.
The victim's body has been sent for autopsy. The attackers are since missing and police have launched a manhunt to find them.
