Five persons, including a Samajwadi Party leader, were killed when two rival groups clashed at village Shamshuddinpur under Jahanganj police circle in Azamgarh on Saturday, the police said.

The incident occurred in the wee hours when SP leader Rakesh Singh alias Pappu Singh was returning with three others after a marriage and were attacked by unidentified assailants.

Singh and his companions were killed on the spot.

The villagers also started firing and one of the assailants was shot dead while the others managed to flee.

Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Garg said the assailants have been identified and a manhunt has been launched to nab them.

Heavy police force has been deployed in the village, where tension prevailed after the incident.