Patna: An employee was shot dead and another critically injured when a gang of armed criminals opened fire at a fuel station in Vaishali late Monday night.

The incident occurred around 11pm when the employees of the fuel station at Shine village under the jurisdiction of Belsar police outpost in Vaishali were about to close the outlet.

Four criminals on two motorcycles reached the pump and asked the employees on duty to fill the tanks of their two-wheelers.

While the employees were engaged in filling the tank, two of the criminals entered the office and attempted to snatch a bag containing money. When the employees resisted the loot bid, one of them opened fire causing injuries to two persons, including its manager Vinod Shahi. One of the two injured persons Aditya Kumar succumbed to his injuries.

The station house officer (SHO) of Belsar temporary outpost, B.B. Dubey, said the condition of the injured identified as Vinod Shahi was stated to be critical. He has been admitted to a private hospital in Muzaffarpur. The deceased and the injured were relatives.

"Raids are underway to nab the assailants," said the SHO.

The police have failed to make any breakthrough in the case. "Efforts are on to ascertain the identity of the gang involved in the crime," the SHO said, adding that the criminals could not succeed in their operation because of resistance offered by the employees of the petrol pump. On being informed, Vaishali superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar visited the spot.

Hajipur additional superintendent of police Ajay Kumar claimed that the robbers would be brought to book at the earliest.

The owner of the fuel outlet, Sumit Shahi, visited the hospital and inquired about the health of the injured employee Aditya. "It is better to ask about the incident from the police," he said over the phone on Tuesday.

Vaishali SP Rakesh said the video footage of the closed circuit television cameras installed at the outlet have been obtained to ascertain the identity of the gangsters involved in the incident.