The Imam of a mosque was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Tuesday morning in Bhensia Village of Moradabad District.

The assailants, apparently known to the deceased, first called him out of the mosque and then shot him dead from a point-blank range.

The deceased Maulana Akram was a resident of Rampur District but was living in Bhensia Village for the last 15 years and was working in the local mosque.