NEW DELHI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A leader of Bhujan Samaj Party (BSP) Haji Ahsan and his nephew Shadab were shot dead Tuesday by unidentified gunmen in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.
The duo was fired upon inside Ahsan's office in Najibabad town of Bijnor district, about 449 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.
"Unidentified gunmen today late afternoon at around 3:00 p.m. local time barged inside the office of Haji Ahsan and fired indiscriminately, killing Ahsan and his nephew," a police official posted in Bijnor said. "It is too early to say as to who is behind the attack and why he carried out it."
Reports said both of them were rushed to a nearest medical facility, however, doctors there declared them brought dead.
Police said they have registered a case and ordered investigation into the killings.
Ahsan's party had entered into a pre poll alliance with other key regional player Samajwadi Party (SP) in the general elections to keep hardline Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) at bay in Uttar Pradesh. The party bagged 10 seats, while as its alliance partner got 5 seats. However, BJP swept the polls and won 62 seats.
India's BSP has support base in Uttar Pradesh and following among millions of low-caste Dalits.
Following the culmination of general elections killings of party workers are being reported from various states.
On Sunday night a BJP activist was shot dead by unknown gunmen in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.
Last week a close aide of BJP leader Smriti Irani was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district.
BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi registered a spectacular victory by winning 303 seats at its own and together with its allies for National Democratic Alliance (NDA) it has strength of 353 lawmakers out of the total 542 in Indian parliament.
