A leader of rightwing Hindu nationalist party Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was shot dead Tuesday in northern Indian state of Punjab, police said.

  The 58-year-old Ravinder Gosai was gunned down by unidentified assailants near his house in Ludhiana city.
  "Today morning at around 7:20 (local time) unidentified gunmen fired upon Ravinder Gosai when he was returning from local RSS office," a police official said, adding "though he was rushed to hospital, doctors there declared him dead."
  Reports said the assailants were riding a motorcycle and fled immediately following the attack.
  Locals said Gosai was also office bearer at local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office.
  Police have registered a case and ordered investigations into the killing.
  RSS is considered as ideological fountainhead of BJP.