A 17-year-old mason was shot by unidentified assailants when he was returning home from work at Hathkhola in South Dinajpur district on Thursday night.

Sources said Tinku Burman, who hailed from Ashrampara in the Nayabazar area, had left his studies and worked as a mason to make earnings for his family.

“He was shot near a local club by some unknown attackers. Hearing gun shots, we came out and found Tinku lying on the ground. The attackers had fled by then. We soon informed police,” said Gopal Sarkar, a local resident.

Paresh, the deceased’s father, said he had no idea as what has led to the murder. “Tinku did not have problems with anybody.”

Police suspect that the murder was a fallout of old rivalry or dispute. Debarshi Dutta, South Dinajpur police chief, said a probe was on. “We are in search of the attackers and have detained two friends of the victim to obtain information.”