Ten people, including a woman and three children of a minority community, were killed in Bishunpura-Jagdishpur Tola village in Bihar's Siwan district early on Saturday morning, District Magistrate Brajesh Mehrotra said.

Mehrotra said the assailants, clad in shorts and vests, entered the village at around 01:00 am and opened indiscriminate fire.

Earlier reports had suggested the victims were slain with sharp-edged weapons.

Mehrotra said the victims belonged to the 'fakir' community and eked out a living by begging and doing menial jobs.

The assailants' identity and the motive behind the massacre is not known yet, he said.

The victims have been identified as: Mansoor Sai, Manzoor Sai, Sahidini, Israil Sai, Mehfooz Sai, Imtiyaz Sai, Mobarak, Shahnaz, Jamaluddin and Alamgir.

Twenty cartridge casings have been recovered from the spot.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad have expressed shock over the incident.

According to an official press release, Rabri Devi has asked Rural Development Minister Avadh Bihari Chaudhary to
visit the village for an on-the-spot inquiry.