A 30-year-old Dalit was shot at allegedly by a gram pradhan and three others who also thrashed the victim's family members after accusing them of stealing a radish, police said on Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday when the four accused, including gram pradhan Anil, his son Nishant and nephew Sarouttem, reached Sunil Kumar's house in a car and started beating his family members, Circle Officer Bhushan Verma said.

They accused the family of stealing a radish from the gram pradhan's fields. When Kumar protested, the accused fired at him, the CO said.

He was taken to the hospital in a serious condition, he said, adding that police have registered a case against the four accused who are absconding.

Senior police officers have impounded the gram pradhan's car. Security has been tightened and extra police has beendeployed in the area, the official added.