An US$80,000 bounty is now circulating in China's wanted list for the arrest of the suspect responsible for shooting a social stability in Sichuan Province.

Chinese authorities have been offering a reward to anyone with information that would lead to an arrest related to the shooting.

According to o sources from the Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, authorities have already identified a suspect named Xiaga, 35, of Tibetan ethnicity, for killing Zhang Wei, an official of the office of social stability maintenance or "weiwen," last June 14.

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Zhang was on his way back to the prefecture after leading a group of people in a 40-day mission to the Chongcao Mountain when he was shot dead. He was working in Tabu Village trying to prevent disputes over the harvest of yartsa gunbu -- caterpillar fungus -- a highly valued medicinal herb.

Chinese authorities immediately launched a manhunt. They believe that Xiaga acted alone and revenge was what motivated the suspect.

Sinosphere reported that the angle of revenge could have resulted from a recent work policy concerning harvesting caterpillar fungus. The suspect from Langzhu Village, Tongxiao Township still remains at large.

Carrying firearms is strictly prohibited in China and firearms-related crimes have been very rare. However, authorities have increased their presence in Tibet and regions around Sichuan following the 2008 deadly riots that took place and the continuing anti-China protests.

TagsSichuan, Zhang Wei, Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Xiaga