Dumka (Jharkhand), Apr 15 (PTI) A 65-year-old panchayat mukhiya was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Jharkhand's Dumka district on Saturday evening, triggering a protest with locals demanding immediate arrest of the accused, police said.

The incident occurred in Hansdiha area under the Saraiyahat Police Station limits when motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at Suresh Murmu, a mukhiya of Barheet Panchayat, Sub-divisional Police Officer (Jermundi) Shivendra said.

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He was returning home when the incident happened, the SDPO said.

Murmu was taken to Saraiyahat Community Health Centre, where a doctor declared him brought dead.

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An investigation into the murder has been initiated and the reason behind the killing is yet to be ascertained, the officer said.

Local people blocked a road near Hansdiha High School in protest against the incident.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)