Patna, May 1: A 50-year-old man was shot at and critically injured by some motorbike-borne criminals on the Annie Besant Road on Sunday.

The victim, identified as Ajay Kumar, has been admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) where his condition was stable following treatment. He was wheeled into the hospital with grievous injuries on his back.

The incident took place around 6.30am when the victim, owner of a private lodge, was going through the newspaper near a temple located on the Ashok Raj Path.

The locals, who subsequently informed the Pirbahore police about the incident, rushed Ajay to PMCH. The assailants had fled the spot by the time police reached. The police inquired from some local residents, who were present at the time of the incident.

Residents were in a state of shock after the incident. "We are shocked over the rising incidents of firing and group clashes in the locality. The police have failed to make any arrest in any of these incidents, which left around 12 people wounded in two months," Muntazir Imam, a resident of Patna University area, said.

City superintendent of police Chandan Kushwaha said the reason behind the murderous attack on the owner of the private hostel is yet to be ascertained.

"The police will record the victim's statement after his condition improves," he told The Telegraph.

Chandan said though the police sealed all exit routes of the locality, the criminals still managed to flee. "The police have intensified raids to nab the culprits," he added.