According to police, he was standing near a food stall in an area that falls under Hussainganj police station when he was shot. He was then taken to hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.

The district police have set up a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the matter.

Siwan Superintendent of Police Shailesh Kumar Gupta said: “We have set up an SIT under an inspector. We are trying to find out the motive behind the murder.”

Jamal, who had contested the 2015 Assembly election, also ran an NGO. In 2017, he became the president of the AIMIM unit in Bihar’s Siwan district.

AIMIM Bihar spokesperson Adil Hasan Azad told The Indian Express: “Arif Jamal had been a non-controversial and upright leader making his mark politically. We want the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.”