Local Congress leader, contractor and former panchayat president David D’Souza was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Karnataka’s Udupi district, police said on Friday.

According to preliminary information, two men arrived in a vehicle and allegedly opened fire on D’Souza before fleeing the scene. The attack left him critically injured.

D’Souza was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries while being shifted, officials said.

The motive behind the killing is not yet known. Police have launched an investigation and are working to identify and trace the attackers.

The shooting has sent shockwaves through the local political and business circles, as D’Souza was a well-known figure in the region. Apart from his political activities with the Congress, he was also involved in contracting work and had previously served as a panchayat president.

Senior police officers reached the spot soon after the incident and began collecting evidence. Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage from the area and speak to witnesses to reconstruct the sequence of events.

No arrests have been made so far.

Police said further details would emerge as the investigation progresses and efforts are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.

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Published By:

Nitish Singh

Published On:

Aug 8, 2026 02:44 IST