A trader was shot at and a petrol pump employee was robbed of around Rs 6 lakh from the Vaishali district headquarters, around 25km north of Patna, on Monday.

Police said three bike-borne criminals fired at Nawal Kishore Singh (40), owner of Rinki Iron shop on the busy Umesh Cinema Road, around 9am. Nawal, a resident of Sultanpur village near Hajipur, was shot in the head. The assailants, all of who are estimated to be below 25 years of age, escaped unchallenged.

Nawal's employees rushed him to the sadar hospital from where he was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

The businessman had lodged a complaint with Hajipur Town police station two weeks ago that an extortionist was threatening him.

The police had assured him that action would be taken .

Nawal's brother, Prahlad, told the police that the extortionist had demanded Rs 50 lakh from Nawal and also threatened to kidnap the businessman's school-going son.

In the other incident, bike-borne criminals robbed Vishwajeet Singh, a petrol pump employee, in Bag Dulhan.

No breakthrough was made in the incidents.

Hajipur Sadar sub-divisional police officer Rasheed Zaman said: "Raids are on to nab the criminals involved in the incident."

Vaishali superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar was not available for comment on the developments.