Ahmedabad, March 26: Former Gujarat state home minister Haren Pandya was today shot dead by an unidentified gunman as he was returning from his morning walk at law garden locality, about two km from his residence here. Forty three-year-old Pandya was hit by five bullets fired from close range in his chest, neck and lower abdomen and was rushed to V S Hospital where doctors unsuccessfully struggled to save him, according to doctors who attended on him.
Pandya was declared "dead" when he was brought to the hospital at 11 am, they said.

The resident medical officer said that Pandya`s body has been sent for post mortem.

Official sources said the gunman on a motorcycle opened fire on Pandya when he sat in his car and was about to drive back home at around 10:30 am after finishing his morning walk.

According to the sources, Pandya lay unattended for nearly half an hour before people could notice him.


Bureau Report