Three motorcycle-borne youths on Monday shot dead a murder accused and his police gunner in Pura Kalandar area of Faizabad district. The assailants also took away the gunner's service rifle before leaving the site of crime.

The victim, Uma Shanker Dubey of Inayat Nagar, had earlier been jailed in a case relating to the murder of a local gangster, Sanjay Singh alias Gullu, who was killed last year.

The constable, Mahendra Vir Singh, who also died in the shooting, was posted as a gunner for Dubey.

The incident took place when Dubey was on his way to the district court on a motorcycle along with the constable to attend the hearing in the murder case against him.

Dubey had reached the Chandrabhan ka Purva village when three youths intercepted them and opened indiscriminate fire, killing Dubey on the spot.

The constable, who had sustained critical injuries, died on way to the hospital.

Faizabad SSP RKS Rathore said Dubey's family members have named kin and the acquaintances of the slain Sanjay Singh for Monday's killing. The police teams are conducting raids to arrest the suspects.

Dubey’s brother Vikram Kumar alias Vicky too alleged that Sanjay Singh's men were behind the incident.