Patna: The double murder at Buddha Colony will only add to the growing perception that law and order is fast deteriorating in the state capital.

The incident has sent shockwaves among residents of Buddha Colony's Dujra Chak area.

Deepak Lal, a resident of the area, said: "We came to know about it around 11.30pm, when a large number of policemen reached the area. First, we thought that some raid was taking place but later we came to know that Harendra Prasad and his wife had been found murdered."

"The incident is shocking. If people are not safe in their house in a densely populated area, how can police ensure safety and security of people outside their houses?" he added.

The neighbours claimed that they had hardly seen police patrolling at night. Another neighbour, requesting anonymity, said: "Buddha Colony police patrol our area around 7.30-8.30 pm. Thereafter, there is no patrolling."

The residents' allegation of absence of night patrolling in the area assumes importance as Patna police claim to conduct seven different types of round-the-clock patrolling - dolphin mobile van, day and night patrolling squad, night patrolling, foot patrolling, bike patrolling, cycle patrolling and anti-race squad.

Sources said apart from day and night patrolling squad, most patrolling takes place at night.

Also, on directions of the Patna deputy inspector-general of police (DIG) (central range), 12 checking points were set up at different places.

However, owing to Thursday's bandh call by some organisations, the police special drive was not carried out at many places.

The murder of the elderly couple is just one in a series of crimes that have taken place in Patna in the past month.

On August 23, Amar Kumar, a 25-year-old morning walker, was shot dead and another suffered injuries at Moin-ul-Haq stadium, which was full of morning walkers around that time. The stadium ground houses Kadamkuan police station and a CRPF battalion unit. On August 14, an undersecretary-level officer posted at Patna secretariat was shot dead in an alleged robbery attempt at his residence at R-Block Road Number 2.

The officer, Rajeev Kumar, 59, posted with the planning and development department, was at home along with his wife, Rajni Ranjan, and daughter, Antra, when three armed criminals barged into his house from the rear side of the government quarter and shot him.