Ayodhya/Pratapgarh, Jul 16 (IANS): In two separate shootouts in Uttar Pradesh, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and a Samajwadi Party (SP) leader were killed, exposing the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

On Monday evening, VHP district president and advocate Pranav Misra was killed by unidentified bike-borne assailants in Pratapgarh while SP leader Akhilesh Yadav was killed in Kanakpur village in Ayodhya when unidentified assailants on bike fired several rounds at him and fled.

According to reports, Misra, who worked at the district court, was on his way to work when some armed men shot him dead.

Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police, N. Anand, was removed from the post after the incident and replaced by Abhishek Singh.

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the SP have condemned the murders and demanded immediate arrest of the assailants.

Arif Khan, an advocate and a friend of Misra said: "Advocates are being killed since 2014 and as many as seven advocates have been killed so far. The police are silent on it and there have been no strict investigations on the murderers."

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said the incident was proof of growing lawlessness in the state.