Trader shot dead in Samastipur

Patna: Three motorcycle-borne criminals gunned down a local businessman after chasing him for several metres near Haripur Chowk under Pusa police station in Samastipur district on Friday night. The criminals also looted Rs 3.5 lakh from the 39-year-old businessman, who has been identified as Avadesh Poddar, distributor of Hindustan Unilever for Samastipur district.
Police said a critically injured Poddar was rushed to Samastipur sadar hospital where the doctors pronounced him brought dead.
Samastipur SP Naval Kishore Singh said Poddar was on way to Pusa from Samastipur on a motorcycle along with his staff Hareram Kumar when the criminals intercepted him. “As the criminals stopped Poddar’s motorcycle, he ran for safety. However, the criminals chased him and fired a bullet, killing him on the spot,” the SP said, adding that the assailants managed to escape after committing the crime.
Sadar SDPO Mohammad Tanveer said a manhunt had been launched to arrest those involved in the murder. “We have detained six persons with criminal antecedents in connection with the case,” the SDPO said, adding that the body of the victim was handed over to his family members after a postmortem.
SHO of Pusa police station Raj Kishore Kumar said Poddar was probably killed over a personal rivalry. “He became distributor of Hindustan Unilever for Samastipur district only recently. Earlier, he was the company’s distributor for Pusa only,” the SHO said.
The slain businessman’s brother, Naresh Poddar, has lodged an FIR against unknown persons with Pusa police station in connection with the case.