Amethi, May 26 (IANS): 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.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amethi Rajesh Kumar said that some people have been detained in connection with the murder and further investigations are on.

Sources said that Singh had worked for Irani during the recently concluded general elections.

The police are yet to find a motive behind the killing. Raids are being conducted in adjoining villages to trace the accused.

A heavy deployment of forces has been made in the village in view of prevailing tension.

On May 24, a Samajwadi Party member of the zila panchayat Vijay Yadav had been shot dead in Ghazipur.