Lucknow, Sep 9 (IANS): Violence erupted in Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday after a block development committee (BDC) member was gunned down in broad daylight at a market, police said.

Angry over the murder, local residents went berserk setting on fire two vehicles and pelting stones at police and passing cars.

Heavy police reinforcements were rushed to the violence-hit area, an official told IANS.

According to available information, the BDC member of Walipur village Jameel Ahmad was at his shop when three bike-borne assailants reached there and opened fire at him.

He escaped the first gunshot and rushed into a shop but the assailants dragged him out and shot him five times. Ahmad died on the spot.

When shopkeepers tried to intercept the assailants, they brandished their weapons to scare the locals and sped away.

Local residents blocked roads, attacked policemen and set on fire vehicles soon after the incident.

Senior police officials later reached the crime scene and the body was sent for post-mortem examination.

Locals alleged that Ahmad was killed owing to the impending Panchayat polls scheduled for next month.

Police said they are probing all angles. No arrests have been made so far.