Patna, June 14: The head cashier of State Bank of India’s Patliputra branch was shot dead in his chamber this afternoon, triggering a chain of aftershocks.

The overpowered assailant fled flaunting a second firearm after the one he used to kill the bank official fell down when the victim’s colleagues were thrashing him. A little later, a polythene packet found in the cabin of the cashier sparked a bomb scare. But city superintendent of police Kim said it was not a bomb and the assailant brought it along to frighten people.

Sources said the assailant — short and middle-aged — casually entered the Patliputra branch of the State Bank of India around 12.30pm. Sporting a full striped shirt and jeans, he walked straight into the cabin of the head cashier, James Michael Dextas (57).

After two-three minutes of conversation and a brief war of words, the duo indulged in a scuffle. Soon after, the assailant allegedly pulled out a country-made single-shot gun hidden in his waist and fired at the head cashier. The bullet hit James in the stomach and he slumped to the ground.

Hearing the gunshot, the colleagues of James and the unarmed bank guard rushed to his cabin. They intercepted the assailant and started beating him up. The overpowered assailant lost grip on the gun and it fell on the floor. The polythene packet that sparked bomb fear later also slipped out from the hip pocket of his trousers at this juncture.

Springing a surprise for those beating him up, the assailant took out a country-made revolver hidden in his waist and threatened to open fire. Scared, the guards and the bank employees let the assailant go.

The man fled to the first-floor of the bank and then took the staircase on the rear side of the building to come down. Finally, he scaled the boundary wall and fled.

The colleagues of James were awestruck for a while. Regaining composure, they called police and rushed James to the nearby Sahyog Hospital. The head cashier died there while undergoing treatment.

After the colleagues of James, it was the turn of the police, including Kim, to be awestruck when a sniffer dog recovered the small polythene bag containing a rectangular object wrapped in wires form a corner of James’ cabin, sparking doubts that it could be an improvised explosive device. The bomb squad was immediately summoned. But Kim later said the device was not a bomb and the assailant carried it to create panic.

Sources in the police said the objective of the assailant was not loot. “It seems to be a case of personal rivalry or mistaken identity. Some bank employees said the assailant was looking for one ‘Verma’. We are trying to confirm it. If he was indeed looking for Verma, it can be a case of a mistaken identity. Maybe, the person had a personal score to settle with James. Investigations are on and the sketch of the assailant will be prepared,” a police officer said.