An unidentified group shot at a construction worker at Nawalpur in Lalbandi Municipality, Sarlahi, in broad daylight on Saturday.

Two motorcycle-borne assailants shot at Jayanath Mahato, aged 30, while he was working at a temple construction site. The victim received bullet injuries in his arm. Mahato was taken to Birgunj after primary care at a local health facility.

The motive behind the shooting is not immediately known, said DSP Pratit Singh Rathour, adding that an investigation is underway.

Preliminary investigation showed that the assailants first went to Mahato’s house and inquired about him. They later came to Bramhasthan Temple where the victim was working. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers fired at Mahato and immediately fled the scene.

“It seems that the assailants attempted to murder him. Security personnel have been mobilised in the area to nab the culprits,” said DSP Rathour.

Local residents have been terrorised following the shooting as criminal activities have gone unchecked in the district lately. Supriya Bharati, the wife of Dr Dipendra Rajak at Sarlahi Eye Hospital, was murdered at the hospital quarters on Thursday. The culprits have yet to be arrested.