Patna/Siwan, Nov. 25: The body of Siwan businessman Hari Shankar Singh, who was abducted at gunpoint from Pachrukhi railway station, about 140km northwest of Patna, on November 15, was found on Wednesday.

Though police had initially said it was a case of kidnapping for ransom, they found that an old family dispute sparked the abduction and murder.

The case was cracked when the police brought in Pappu, a cousin of Hari Shankar (40), for interrogation last night. Pappu confessed that he along with his friend Ajay Singh had abducted Hari Shankar when the victim was out for his morning walk around 6am. Pappu said his family and Hari Shankar's had an old feud.

Pappu also told the cops that Hari Shankar was killed on November 16 and his body dumped in an agricultural field. Based on Pappu's information, a team led by additional superintendent of police Arvind Kumar Gupta visited the spot and recovered the body today. Pappu's accomplice Ajay managed to give the police the slip.

During the interrogation, Pappu had told the cops Ajay could flee to Delhi. A senior IPS officer said though an alert was sounded to the police in Patna and Delhi, Ajayescaped to Delhi by an IndiGo flight on Wednesday afternoon.

An eyewitness had told the police after the abduction that four men had forced Hari Shankar into an SUV car.

After the trader's body was exhumed from a 6ft ditch today, Siwan superintendent of police (SP) Saurabh Kumar Sah said 10 people have been caught in connection with the case. The vehicle was also found at Chandpura village in the district.

The police became suspicious after the victim's family did not get any ransom call. "It's now obvious that Hari Shankar was kidnapped because of old rivalry and not for ransom," the SP said. He added that raids were on to nab the others involved in the crime.

A grieving Chhote Singh, Hari Shankar's younger brother, said: "It's a failure on the part of the district police to save my brother."