Motorbike-borne criminals shot dead two men, including a wholesale grocery dealer of Patna City's Maroofganj foodgrain market, at Hajipur in Vaishali, around 20km north of Patna, on Sunday.

The incident occurred around 3.45pm, when Ankit Rohatgi, 32, was returning to Patna with his employee, Dipu Kumar, after collecting dues from shopkeepers in Hajipur.

The assailants intercepted the duo on Gudri-Bazaar road, in the heart of the district headquarters Hajipur and fired at them, injuring them grievously.

While Ankit, who was riding pillion on a two-wheeler, was killed on the spot, Dipu succumbed to bullet injuries at Hajipur sadar hospital.

The assailants, according to eyewitnesses, were in the age group of 20 to 30 years, however, managed to escape. The shopkeepers downed their shutters in a huff following the daylight firing in the busy locality.

Vaishali superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar said the criminals didn't loot the money the victims were carrying with them. The police recovered Rs 30,000 on the deceased businessman. "The reason behind the double murder is yet to be ascertained," the SP told The Telegraph over phone.

The police recovered three empty cartridges and two helmets from the spot. Eyewitnesses told the police that the assailants chased the victims when they made an abortive bid to escape and pumped bullets from close-range.

The SP said raids had been launched on the basis of preliminary information received from residents and passers-by. "Since the locality hums with activity during the day, it is hard to keep close surveillance on criminals," the SP added.

Preliminary investigation suggested that the motive of the assailants was to eliminate the trader.

"We hope the family will assist the police in the investigation and share relevant information," an investigating officer said.

The modus operandi of the gangsters has flummoxed the cops. "We are at a loss over the latest modus operandi of the criminals, who mostly target traders. The role of some local businessmen is also under the police scanner," a senior police officer said.

Traders, on the other hand, were fuming over the murder.

"This is the second such incident in Hajipur in the past year. Last year, a trader from Patna City was also killed in a similar manner," said a trader, who deals in automobile spare parts.

Recently, an employee of a private insurance company, which has its headquarters in Patna, was killed while he was returning home from the capital on his motorcycle.

"The crime graph is soaring here, leaving the traders, in particular, and residents in general to fend for themselves," said another businessman.