Udupi, Aug 7: Congress leader and former Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat president David D’Souza was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in broad daylight at Pilar village in Udupi district on Friday afternoon.

The incident occurred near St. Francis Xavier Church within the limits of the Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat, around 35 km from Udupi city. According to police, two men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire on D’Souza at close range before fleeing the scene.

Local residents rushed the critically injured D’Souza to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

D’Souza, a well-known figure in the Shirva region, was engaged in several businesses, including a successful earthmovers venture. He had also served as the president of the Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat and was associated with the Congress party.

Police teams from the Shirva and Padubidri police stations immediately reached the spot and launched an investigation. A Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) team, forensic experts and a dog squad examined the crime scene and collected evidence. Investigators are also analysing CCTV footage and other scientific evidence to identify the assailants.

Speaking to the media after visiting the crime scene, Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said preliminary investigation points to previous financial disputes as a possible motive behind the murder. He added that D’Souza was shot from close range and that the case is being investigated from all possible angles.

The SP further stated that D’Souza had 14 criminal cases registered against him, the latest being an abetment to suicide case filed in 2020.

The two assailants remain at large, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend them. Police said the investigation is continuing.