Two people were shot dead by six criminals, purportedly because of an old enmity, at the home of a Nainijore resident around 12.30am on Thursday.

The host, who tried to chase the assailants, was also shot in the leg. He later died of injuries at a government hospital. All the deceased were farmers.

Shambhoo Yadav (55) and his son Sanjay (19), residents of Suinyaan village in Bhojpur district, were staying at one Sunil Yadav’s home in Nainijore. The village, around 45km east of Buxar town, is on the Buxar-Bhojpur border.

Sources said around six people, with their faces covered, raided Sunil’s house. Locating Shamboo and his son, the assailants gunned them down. When Sunil gave the criminals a chase, he was also shot. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.

Dumraon sub-divisional police officer Nurul Haque said: “An old enmity could be the reason behind the attack. A case was registered on Thursday morning against Jagdish Yadav, Kedar Yadav and 13 more persons on the basis of statements given by the kin of the victims. Nobody has been arrested yet but raids are on to arrest the assailants.”