Daylight shootout stuns Sullia

Sullia: Unidentified assailants allegedly shot dead a man in Dakshina Kannada district early Thursday, police sources said.

The victim, identified as Sampath, was a key accused in the murder of BJP leader Samaje Kalagi Balachandra in Madikeri a year ago.

He was shot at from close range by the assailants who also attacked him with a sword at Shantinagara in Sullia taluk, the sources said.

Though he was taken to the government hospital at Sullia, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The sources said the gang of miscreants arrived in a car at around 6.30 am, opened fire at Sampath and fled the scene in the same vehicle.

Police have begun an investigation.