Motorbike-borne criminals looted Rs 4.8 lakh from a fuel outlet owned by former minister Veena Shahi at Warispur in Vaishali district in the small hours of Tuesday.

Police said five criminals, armed with country-made pistols, reached the petrol pump on National Highway 77 near Bhagwanpur, 40km north of Patna, around 4am and held the employees captive.

Thereafter, they barged into the office and collected money stashed in the cash box at gunpoint.

The robbers assaulted the cashier and other employees with revolver butts when they offered resistance. They also opened fire in the air to terrorise the other employees sleeping on the premises. The entire operation lasted about 10-15 minutes.

A few residents gathered on the spot after hearing the gunshots. Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) (Sadar) Pankaj Rawat said nobody was injured in the firing.

A police team attached with the Bhagwanpur police station immediately rushed to the site and inquired about the incident. "The criminals fled the spot by the time police reached there," the DSP added. Vaishali superintendent of police (SP) Rakesh Kumar said the borders of the district had been sealed and raids had been launched.

"The police interrogated a few suspects but nothing substantial was found," he said.

This is the second incident of cash loot in the district in the past fortnight.

On June 30 this year, four armed criminals had looted Rs 6.7 lakh from the manager and an employee of Gautam Gas Agency near Kiratpur Chowk under the jurisdiction of Bhagwanpur police station.

The incident took place when the victims were on way to deposit the money in a bank. The police have failed to make any headway in both the incidents.

"We are keeping a close watch on criminals recently released from jail. Their involvement in the two cases cannot be ruled out," said an investigating officer.

The frequent incidents of cash loot have sent shockwaves among the members of the business community.

"The criminals have let loose a reign of terror in some parts of the district," said a wholesale dealer of edible oil at the district headquarters town of Hajipur.