An unidentified group shot dead a 22-year-old man at Jingadawa in Paroha Municipality-2 of Rautahat district on Monday.

According to the District Police Office, Rautahat, the deceased has been identified as Sheikh Abbu Shaheb, son of Sheikh Sherajuddin, ward chair candidate from the Nepali Congress in the recently concluded third phase of local level elections.

Police said that the incident occurred while he was sleeping at the courtyard of his house at around 4 am today.

Shaheb, who sustained bullet injuries on his chest, breathed his last on the way to the District Hospital, Gaur.

The body has been kept at the Gaur Hospital for postmortem.

Police said that they have arrested Suraj Kumar Sah, 22, son of Manoj Kumar Sah of Parohi Municipality-1 for his alleged involvement in the firing.

CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Mahomman Ejajur Rahaman was elected chairman of the Paroha Municipality-2.

Meanwhile, NC cadres have said that Shaheb was murdered under the direction of Maoist Centre leaders.

Police said that they are investigating into the case.