Congress leader shot dead, rival groups clash

Patna, Nov 19 (UNI) A Congress leader was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Sultanganj police station here today.

Police said motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire on Congress leader Yaduvansh Yadav while he was waiting for the bus to drop his son to school. He died on the spot in the shoot-out while the assailants took shelter in a nearby building after being chased by the local people.

''Locals, enraged over the killing of Mr Yadav, assembled near the building and started hurling stones at the assailants,'' police said, adding the house owner fired in the air to scare away the mob.

Firing by the house owner further enraged the locals and they intensified the brick-batting and stone-hurling on the building. The situation aggravated when supporters of the assailants also reached the spot and clashed with the locals gathered there.

Meanwhile, both the assailants were taken into custody by the police and interrogation was on.

The deceased Congress leader was active in the party for the last 20 years. Local MP Ram Kripal Yadav and senior Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra visited the residence of the leader and consoled his family members.

UNI KKS DPM SV AS1828