Mohammad Shamim at a private nursing home in Muzaffarpur on Saturday. Picture by Prakash Kumar

Patna, Oct. 1: Barely 24 hours after the murder of a Nawada-based jeweller on Friday, a businessman of Muzaffarpur was shot at and critically injured by motorcycle-borne criminals under Mithanpura police station of the town on Saturday. The assailants fled with Rs 4 lakh that the trader, Mohammad Shamim, was carrying with him.

The incident occurred around 11am on the busy road near MDDM College when Shamim was travelling in his car to his fuel outlet at Kazi Inda, on the outskirts of Muzaffarpur, from his Club Road residence.

Four criminals riding on two motorcycles intercepted Shamim’s car and fired at him from close range. Thereafter, they pounced upon the bag containing the money and sped away towards Narayanpur. Shamim received bullet injury in his right shoulder.

The firing triggered panic in the area and passers-by started running helter-skelter for safety. Soon, the road wore a deserted look as shopkeepers downed their shutters in fear.

Shamim (35) was immediately rushed to a private nursing home at Juran Chhapra. The doctors attending to him described his condition as stable. The victim later told the police that he was carrying the money as he had to make drafts for business dealings. He was behind the wheels when the robbers fired at him.

Deputy superintendent of police (City) Bachcha Singh said the identity of the criminals involved in the incident is yet to be ascertained. “The police have launched raids at the possible hideouts of the criminals. They will be caught very soon,” he added.

Earlier, a shoe trader was robbed of Rs 5 lakh on Jawaharlal Road under Town police station. The police have, however, failed to make any breakthrough in that case.

On Friday morning, a Nawada-based jeweller, Sanjay Kumar Verma, was murdered and his brother, Dhananjay, injured when criminals opened fire at them near the official residence of the district magistrate.

Dhananjay is undergoing treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital.