"Unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot dead Gitanidhi Rayamajhi in the Itahari market in front of his residence at around 6:45 pm Friday evening," police said.

Rayamajhi, 32, was rushed to a local hospital in the district 540km southeast of Kathmandu but later died of his injuries.

Rayamajhi, a pro-Royal National Democratic Party supporter, was appointed as mayor of the Itahari municipality by the former Surya Bahadur Thapa-led government. He served as mayor for about six months until around a year ago.