Patna: A Bihar Public Service (BPS) officer, Shubh Narain Dutt, was shot dead by a gang of unidentified armed criminals near Dumra chowk in Sitamarhi district late on Thursday. Dutt was posted as district welfare officer.

The incident took place around 8pm. Sitamarhi superintendent of police (SP) Vikas Burman said Dutt had stepped out for an evening stroll after returning from office. Three youths riding a motorbike intercepted him near Dumra chowk under the jurisdiction of Dumra police station of the district headquarters town and pumped five bullets into him from close range causing grievous injuries. Dutt was rushed to the Sitamarhi sadar hospital where he died during treatment. Dutt, a native of Madhubani district, was posted in Sitamarhi for the past year. A poll of gloom descended at his Rajeev Nagar residence in Patna.

Sitamarhi SP Burman said the reason behind the district welfare officer's murder was yet to be ascertained. The police conducted raids at different hideouts of the criminals.

"The borders of the district have been sealed and raids are being carried out to nab the assailants," Burman told The Telegraph over phone from Sitamarhi on Thursday.

The police did not rule out involvement of contract killers in the incident.

The murder of the government officials in the busy locality of the town has sent shockwaves among residents. Earlier, the district had witnessed a series of murders and murderous attacks on the members of the business community.

Sitamarhi is close to the Nepal border. Police sources said the assailants sneaked into Nepal after committing the crime in the district.