A businessman was kidnapped in Siwan district on Sunday morning, putting the spotlight back on one of the biggest challenges the newly elected rulers of Bihar face - the state's law and order problem.

Residents, angry over the kidnapping and the police's lax approach to it, blocked rail and road traffic for hours.

The incident occurred around 6am when Hari Shankar Singh (40) had gone for his morning walk near the Pachrukhi railway station, about 140km northwest of Patna. Four men took him hostage at gunpoint.

Gautam Sah, owner of a tea stall on the station premises, told the police that though Hari Shankar raised an alarm, nobody came to his rescue as the kidnappers had guns. The businessman was hit with revolver butts and forced into a silver Bolero waiting outside the station.

Sah told the victim's younger brother Chhote Singh, informed the local police.

An investigating officer said Hari Shankar would usually go for walks with acquaintances, "but nobody was accompanying him today (Sunday)." The victim's family was being questioned for more information, the officer added.

Apart from a fertiliser and seeds wholesale shop, Hari Shankar's family owns a sawmill and a brick kiln unit in Pachrukhi and a medicine wholesale shop in Siwan.

"It's a case of kidnapping for ransom," said Siwan superintendent of police Saurabh Sah, adding that they "hope to solve the case at the earliest."

The special investigation team (SIT) set up for the case, headed by additional superintendent of police Arvind Gupta, conducted raids at known criminal hideouts but nobody was arrested. "We have sealed the borders of the district and launched the operation to recover the trader," Gupta told The Telegraph.

Agitated Pachrukhi residents paralysed rail and road traffic for hours, demanding that the police rescue Hari Shankar and stern disciplinary action against station house officer (SHO) Mohammed Akbar. Several trains, including Amrapali Express, were delayed. The protesters also blocked National Highway 85. Traffic was restored around 2 pm.

"The police spent two-three hours inquiring about the incident. By the time they swung into action, the kidnappers had made good their escape with the victim," said a visibly upset Chhote Singh.

Superintendent Sah has put SHO Akbar under suspension and initiated departmental proceedings against him.

Cop stabbed dead

An assistant sub-inspector of police in Darbhanga was knifed to death at Laheriasarai bus stand at about 5am on Sunday.

Vijay Singh, from Patna's Bikram police station area, was posted in the Darbhanga traffic wing. Darbhanga SSP A.K. Satyarthi said the accused, identified as Bipin Singh, has been arrested. Vijay and Bipin had a heated argument over the use of toilets in the bus stand.

Contractor murder

On Saturday morning, contractor Dharmendra Yadav was shot dead in Berna village in Muzaffarpur district. Two men on a motorcycle attacked Dharmendra when he had gone for a morning stroll.

Angry residents attacked a police team, set their patrol vehicle on fire and disrupted traffic for over five hours.