A number of unknown gunmen shot dead the head of the High Peace Council (HPC) for northern Samangan province on Monday night, said a local official.

The Provincial Police Chief, Baqir Massoud, said that the incident took place when Samangan's HPC head, Qari Saif Sadat, was on his way to home from mosque and was attacked by a number of unidentified gunmen.

He added that security forces arrested a suspect and investigations were underway. However, he did not provide more details about the incident.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.