In a sensational daylight shoot-out in Uttar Pradesh's Gazipur district, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker-cum- journalist Rajesh Mishra was on Saturday shot dead by three motorcycle-borne assailants, who also wounded his brother, police said. The murder comes close on the heels of the killing of another RSS worker in ludhiana on October 17, where two masked men on a motorcycle shot dead RSS leader Ravinder Gosain, 60, outside his house in Kailash Nagar locality of Basti Jodhewal. The murders of two RSS men so close to each other throw up questions whether the violence against the right-wing is slowly shifting from the South to the North of India.
In Saturday's incident, the assailants, who came brandishing firearms, shot at Mishra (40) when he and his brother Amitesh were at their shop in Brahmanpura Chatti area where they sold building material, circle officer Hridayanad Singh said.
Mishra was associated with Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, one of the largest selling newspapers in the country.
Mishra, who was shot in the head, was declared brought dead at the district hospital. His brother, who was shot in the abdomen, has been referred to a Varanasi hospital for further treatment.
Additional Director General of Police (law and Order) Anand Kumar said in lucknow that two of the attackers have been identified.
"Of the three assailants, two have been identified, and soon all of them will be arrested," he added.
Police said the killing seems to be a fallout of some political rivalry. Further investigations are on and the body was sent for post-mortem examination