The body of a young woman was found in the forest area of Assagao village in Goa with police suspecting it to be a case of rape.

The naked body of the woman, apparently in her mid-20s, was found with her head smashed on Thursday, a senior police official said, adding that the suspect in the case has already been identified.

The body was found by two forest guards, who were on a routine visit to Assagao.

The guards also saw the suspect rushing out of the forest on a scooter, the police official claimed.

The suspect has been identified as Ranjit Tuenkar, a youth living in Anjuna village, located in the neighbourhood of the place where the incident occurred.

"The suspect is currently on the run," a police official said.