An Indian gangster-turned-politician has been shot dead on live television.

Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were being escorted for a medical check-up in handcuffs at the time of the attack.

Both men were accosted by camera crews – and police say the gunmen who killed the pair had been masquerading as journalists.

Three people were arrested at the scene, and a police officer and news reporter were injured.

According to NDTV, Ahmed’s lawyer said he was shot in the head at close range.

The killings have been condemned by opposition politicians who claim the government in Uttar Pradesh is soft on crime.

One politician, Akhilesh Yadav, tweeted: “When someone can be killed by firing openly amidst the security cordon of the police, then what about the safety of the general public?

“Due to this, an atmosphere of fear is being created among the public; it seems that some people are deliberately creating such an atmosphere.”