GILGIT, July 28: A shopkeeper from Astore district was shot dead by two gunmen in Konodas when he was going to his house after closing his shop on Wednesday night, police said.

They said two suspects had been arrested and were being interrogated.

The Rangers and police had laid a siege to the entire locality for 10 hours, suspending entry and exit of people and vehicles, until the suspects were arrested.

Police said they could not ascertain any motive behind the murder.

The news of the murder sparked tension in some areas but traffic and business activities remained normal in the city patrolled by large contingents of police, Rangers and Northern Areas Scouts.

The fresh spate of violence, which began on July 17 after an attack on a passenger bus, has so far claimed 11 lives in Gilgit and its suburban areas.