Citizens block Bailey Road in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Police on Monday claimed to have identified the gang of criminals who shot dead a mechanic and fired at his daughter in the course of a robbery on Sunday.

The claim, however, failed to convince angry citizens who blocked a part of the busy Bailey Road near Ashiana Mor for an hour in protest against the worsening law and order situation in the state capital.

A police officer told The Telegraph: “The robbery at Beur is being investigated. Two persons with criminal history have been detained and are being interrogated. The investigations till now have revealed that the gang is based in the neighbouring Jehanabad district, around 60km south of Patna. They commit a crime in Patna and then escape to Jehanabad, where they scatter to diffe- rent pockets.”

He added: “Some of their associates live in different parts of Patna. We are trying to locate them. We know that some of the criminals are in Buxar and some at Mubarak in Jehanabad. We are trying to arrest them.”

Citizens, however, were not convinced about the claims of the police. “What happened to the police patrols at night? It is difficult to spot a policeman on duty at night. Chain snatchings are on the rise. Criminals shoot at citizens at will. Things are not right in Patna,” said Ashiana resident Kumar Adarsh said.

The grievances of the citizens are not without reasons. Sources said the police have been unable to solve most of the major criminal incidents in recent times.

Police are yet to nab the murderer of 26-year-old student Premanand, who died on April 6. He was riding pillion on the bike of a friend when he was shot dead at Rupaspur.

Sources told The Telegraph that the victim was involved in a racket that provided charlatan examinees. The police claim his involvement in the racket could have led to the murder.

“There has not been any arrest but we know that he was a part of a racket that arranged for fake examinees. These people take exams in the place of genuine candidates. In the course of the investigation, we have found out that he was trying to set up his own business,” said a police officer.

Another criminal incident that remains unsolved is the robbery at the Brahmapura area under the jurisdiction of Beur police station. Robbers broke into the house of postal service employee Anil Kumar and shot him when he tried to resist them. Last week, the police released a sketch of the person who allegedly shot Anil.