Unidentified gunmen shot dead a religious scholar after briefly kidnapping him in the Rodat district of eastern Nangarhar province, an official said on Tuesday.

AVA- Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News two motorcyclists killed Qari Hijratullah on Monday evening.

Hijratullah was imam of the mosque in Sheikh Ahmad village. A manhunt was underway to arrest the killers, Khogyani added.

Lal Gul, a resident of the area, said “Hijratullah had no link with anyone and was Imam and a teacher in a seminary, and people were so pleased with him.”

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the targeted killing.