Bilaspur/Raipur, Dec 20 (IANS): A journalist working with Dainik Bhaskar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on his way back home early Monday leaving mediapersons in Chhattisgarh in a state of shock.

Sushil Pathak, 35, was employed with the premier Hindi daily and was also the general secretary of the Bilaspur Press Club. He was shot at least four times by the gunmen at around 2 a.m. Monday when he was returning from a late-night shift, a police officer said. Pathak died on the spot.

The incident occurred in Sarkanda area of the state's second most populous town Bilaspur, some 120 km from state capital Raipur.

"He was shot dead at close range while on way back to his house after a late-night office shift. The murder seems to be well planned," Jayant Thorat, Bilaspur police chief, told reporters.

"We are yet to make any breakthrough in the case," he said.

Terming the murder "a brutal killing", Bilaspur Press Club president Sashikant Konher said: "Mediapersons of Bilaspur are in a total shock now and will stage a protest against the attack."

Politicians and journalist organisations in Raipur and other towns too condemned the killing and blamed the police for failing to crack the case.