A close aide of Union Minister Smriti Irani was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district, police said on Sunday, adding that two people have been arrested.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram, Surendra Singh, the former chief of Baraulia village, was killed by the bike-borne assailants while he was sleeping outside his house on Saturday night.

Singh succumbed to his injuries while on his way to a hospital in Lucknow.

Ram added that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

--IANS

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