The body of a 35-year-old man, identified as Rajesh Kumar alias Babloo, was recovered from Ashiana Nagar in west Patna on Tuesday.

Police said the deceased, who was murdered, used to work as a part-time electrician with Indian Meteorological Department, Patna.

“Rajesh was a resident of Kautilya Farm Colony under the jurisdiction of Rajiv Nagar police station,” said city superintendent of police Jayant Kant.

He added: “The man left his home last evening (Monday), telling his parents that he was going to work. He also told them that he would return this morning (Tuesday). Rajesh had also planned to meet some of his friends after work. When he did not return home, his parents got worried.

“This morning (Tuesday), Ashiana Nagar residents spotted a body near a drain in the locality. The police were informed and the body was identified as that of Rajesh.”

Preliminary investigations suggest that he had been hit on the head with an iron rod. “We recovered Rajesh’s motorbike around 100m away from the body. There were injuries on the body and the head. The man was murdered. His body has been sent for post-mortem,” said Kant.

Rajesh’s father Baleshwar Singh told the police that they did not know of any reason for which his son would be murdered.