Unidentified miscreants murdered Sangappa Nalatwad, 45, a former Gram Panchayat president, in Gaddankeri cross in Bagalkot district on Saturday.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he was hacked to death near a bar that he had taken on lease. According to the police, the attackers fled in a car. The reason behind the attack is yet to ascertained, the police said.

Mr. Nalatvad was a follower of MLA G.T. Patil. Mr. Patil was among the first to reach the site. Mr. Nalatvad’s wife have also served as the GP president earlier.

SP Siddarth Goel, Deputy SP Gajanan Sutar, police inspector Ramanna Biradar and other officers visited the spot and spoke to the victim’s family and associates. A case has been registered in the Kaladagi police station.