Retired policeman Ramnath Yadav and his son Kantanath (27) were shot at by unidentified persons when the father-son duo was on way to cast their vote in panchayat polls in Ramgarh village, Ballia SP Anees Ansari said.
While Ramnath died on the spot, his son Kantanath who is in a serious condition has been referred to Varanasi, he said.
Though Ansari ruled out the incident to be a case of poll violence, eyewitnesses said the incident happened just a few meters away from the polling station.
The minister held laxity on the part of local police responsible for the incident.