The entrance to the house of Hari Mohan Prasad in Danapur. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Investigations into the murder of Danapur-based businessman Hari Mohan Prasad have revealed that an open gate might have helped the criminals to sneak in and commit the crime.

It has also got police thinking about the possible role of an “insider” who might colluded with the assailants.

The cops have already started zeroing in on three gangs active in and around the area. With the police still on the search without an arrest, the men-in-uniform said the main gate of the house was open when the criminals barged in.

“The family used to keep the gate of their residence bolted after sunset. Most families do the same. We have come to know from the family that the main gate was open when the criminals got inside on Wednesday. This is confusing as well as alarming. It could have been a plot by someone close to the family who made sure the criminals entered the house without any resistance. The gate was pulled back but it was not bolted,” said Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj.

The police, however, neither took names nor explained as to how the door could remain open with none of the family members knowing about it.

“Prasad and his wife lived on the first floor. On the second floor, Pankaj, one of the three sons, used to live with his wife. The other two children of Prasad — Neeraj and Dheeraj — used to stay in different homes in the locality.

Sources said Pankaj was not in the house when the incident occurred. “Around 9pm, Pankaj and another brother came to the house and had a talk with Prasad. Around 9.20pm, both left the house. The criminals stormed the residence within a gap of five to seven minutes of the brothers’ exit. It seems the assailants hid near the house and waited for the brothers to leave. The police have also come to know that four days before the incident, Prasad had distributed his property among his three sons. The police cannot point fingers at anyone as investigations are on but a conspiracy cannot be ruled out,” a police officer told The Telegraph.

“After the criminals left, Sunita said she somehow freed her arms, went to the second floor and told her daughter-in-law about what had happened. The criminals didn’t harm the daughter-in-law and targeted Prasad and his wife. The daughter-in-law called up her husband and the police were apprised. Many questions remain unanswered. But the police will solve the case,” the officer added.

Prasad, 50, was stabbed during a dacoity in his two-storeyed house at Nasriganj around 9.30pm on Wednesday. The deceased used to run two hotels in Danapur — Hotel Paradise and Shumaar — at Danapur in partnership with his brother Lal Prasad.

Sources said jewellery worth lakhs was robbed after the criminals, around 10 in number, knocked the front door and stormed the house. With his family — wife Sunita, and daughter-in-law — being held captive, Prasad tried to resist following which he was taken to the kitchen and repeatedly stabbed on his back and stomach.

“Prima facie, it looks to be a clear case of a dacoity and murder. There was a pool of blood in the kitchen as Prasad was stabbed mercilessly many times. However, all options of investigations are open. At present, police and forensic science teams are scanning the house looking for evidence,” Maharaj had told The Telegraph on Thursday.

The cops were also surprised at the timing of the crime. A neighbourhood wedding was being held at the time of the incident, which the police believe the criminals took advantage of. The loud music helped the gang carry out its operation unhindered.

A police officer on Thursday said they were scanning the list of criminals who had been released from jails recently.

“The results are quite encouraging. There is a gang headed by Santosh Yadav, who is into loot and dacoity. His gang has given shape to many dacoities in Danapur. Yadav has recently got out of Beur jail. Though it cannot be said for sure, his hand in the incident cannot be ruled out,” he had said.