Markets shut as trader shot dead in Begusarai

BEGUSARAI: Unidentified criminals shot dead Rajesh Kumar Sah, a local foodgrain and edible oil wholesale dealer, at his godown at Mahna village under the Barauni Refinery police station in Begusarai district on Friday night.
Angry traders downed the shutters of their shops and put the body of the deceased near Karpoori Stahn Chowk in the main market area of Begusarai town, paralysing traffic for several hours.
The incident occurred when Rajesh was monitoring unloading of an edible oil-laden truck at his godown attached to his house. According to Aman Kumar, the 14-year-old son of the deceased, around six criminals came to the shop around 10pm.
“They first asked two staff about my father. On being told that he was inside the house, they pulled out pistols and held both the staff captive. The rest of the criminals, who had their faces covered, moved into the house. They first demanded Rs 10 lakh from my father and took the uncounted daily cash bag,” Aman told this newspaper.
He added, “They first hit my father on the head with pistol butt. My mother Rina Devi and sister Anjali (15), who were present in the house, pleaded for mercy, but the criminals shot my father and fled on foot.”
Rajesh owned a wholesale foodgrain and edible oil shop in Chatti Road locality of Begusarai town.
Begusarai SP Awakash Kumar said prima facie loot seemed to be the motive behind the murder. “I talked to children of the trader since his wife is currently not in a position to talk. The reason behind the murder is yet not clear,” the SP said.
The incident took place close on the heels of murder of Patna-based industrialist Gunjan Khemka at the entrance of his Hajipur factory. Three more businessmen have been killed at Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali over the last fortnight.