India: BJP panchayat president shot dead in Assam

Silchar (Assam), Mar 20 (PTI) A BJP panchayat president in Assam has been shot dead and another party worker critically injured by unidentified gunmen in Cachar district ahead of the three-phase Lok Sabha polls in the state next month, police said on Wednesday.

Unidentifed gunmen opened fire on Sukhendu Das, the president of Borkhola Hatichora panchayat, in front of his residence in the village on Tuesday night in which he and another person was grievously injured.

The two were rushed to Silchar Medical College Hospital, where Das succumbed to his injuries. The injured person, who was identified as Rinku Senapati, was admitted to the intensive care unit where his condition was stated to be critical.

The police rushed to the spot and launched a search to nab the culprits.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has condemned the incident and directed the authorities to take measures arrest those responsible for the killing at the earliest.