Patna: Contractor Manoj Mahto was shot dead by bike-borne criminals near Rampur Garikhana More in Khagaul late on Monday evening. He was returning to his residence at Chardarwa Mor.

Sources said the incident occurred around 9pm, when Manoj, along with wife Vandana Singh and munshi Arun Kumar, were returning home in an SUV. When the SUV which Manoj was driving reached near Rampur Garikhana Mor, two youths on a bike stopped the SUV and fired at Manoj. One of the bullets hit Manoj on his back. Arun, the munshi, said: "Manoj to save his life ran leaving the vehicle. But after running some distance he collapsed."

He was immediately rushed to a private hospital at Saguna Mor area where doctors declared him brought dead. As the news of incident spread, a large number of people including Manoj's supporters assembled at the spot and at the private hospital. The supporters were demanding arrest of culprits behind the incident.

Khagaul police had to face a tough time in pacifying Manoj's supporters. His body was later sent to IGIMS for post-mortem. Sources said Manoj, a contractor was involved in the sale and purchase of land in Danapur. He was also associated with the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP). The SUV in which Manoj was moving bore the RLSP flag.

However, sources said Manoj was not holding any post in the RLSP and he was only a supporter of the party chief, Upendra Kushwaha. Sources said dispute over a piece of land is the suspected reason behind the murder. The victim's widow, Vandana Singh, later lodged an FIR against six persons. Sources said Manoj had a dispute with some persons over a piece of land at Lakhnibigha under Danapur police station area.

Khagaul SHO Sanjay Kumar Pandey said: "Based on the complaint lodged by the victim's family members, the police have arrested three persons. The trio have been booked under sections 302/34 of the IPC."

The SHO claimed to have arrested three persons while raids are going on to nab other criminals behind the incident.

Sources said Manoj in the past few years had bought huge property through land brokerage business.