Patna, Sept. 7: Ram Prakash Choudhary (42), a leader of the JD(U) in Sitamarhi, was shot dead today near Bhoop Bhairo village under Mehsaul police outpost in Sitamarhi district today.

The incident occurred at around 2.30pm when Choudhary was on his way to Sitamarhi town from his native place at Bajpatti on a motorcycle.

Gun-totting men riding on motorcycle overtook his vehicle and fired at him from point-blank range.

He was immediately rushed to Sitamarhi Sadar Hospital where he died in course of treatment.

However, his pillion rider Devendra Thakur survived the attack.

Nitish Mishra, the rural development minister and Sunil Kumar Pintu, tourism minister, had to face the wrath of the party workers when they reached Sitamarhi town in the evening.

The party activists were demanding immediate transfer of the superintendent of police (SP) and the district magistrate of Sitamarhi for the deteriorating law and order condition.

Gauging the mood of the supporters of the deceased, the two ministers preferred to remain confined to a hospital room for about an hour.

The party workers were so angry over the incident that they shouted anti-government slogans in the presence of local MLA Ranju Geeta.

The agitators allowed the police to lift the body for post-mortem only after the minister assured them of bringing the assailants to book at the earliest.

He also assured the party workers to apprise the chief minister of their demand. When contacted, Sitamarhi SP Rakesh Kumar Rathi said the reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained.

“Raids are on to apprehend the criminals involved in the incident,” he said.

The deceased was the president of Bajpatti unit of the JD(U).