Keonjhar: A Jan Seva Kendra owner was allegedly shot dead by unidentified miscreants near Hanuman Chhak under Turumunga police station limits in Odisha’s Keonjhar district.

The deceased has been identified as Trilochan Mahanta, a resident of Khajirapasi village.

According to preliminary information, Mahanta was returning to Patana on his scooter after closing his Jan Seva Kendra on Monday night.

The miscreants intercepted him near Hanuman Chhak and demanded his money bag. They then opened fire at him and attacked him with a sharp weapon, leaving him critically injured.

On being informed, police rushed to the spot and rescued Mahanta. He was taken to the Keonjhar district headquarters hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Police teams from Patana and Turumunga are investigating the incident. The exact motive behind the killing and the identity of those involved are yet to be established. Further investigation is underway.