Thefts in business establishments of the town have left traders and businessmen fuming.

Criminals looted eight big shops of textile, cosmetics and foodgrain in Islampur, Suttapatti and Gola Road, respectively, by breaking locks and damaging shutters on Tuesday night.

According to sources, more than 45 cases of theft in shops at Jawaharlal Road, Saraiyaganj, Tilak Maidan Road, Motijheel, Sadar Hospital Road, Islampur Road, Gola Road, Mithanpura and other parts of the commercial hub, have been reported within a month.

The chairman of the North Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NBCCI), Motilal Chaparia, said he has requested the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Jitendra Rana, to introduce night patrolling in the wake of a spurt in theft.

Representatives of trading outfits led by Chapari also met the SSP and expressed displeasure over increase in crime. “The businessmen have sought intense night patrolling and strict vigil during daytime, said Sanjay Panjiyar, a lubricant merchant.

“The trading community is in arms against the failure of the police to check theft,” said Rumy, proprietor of Apna Bazaar, who runs a civil store in the vicinity of Mithanpura police station on Jail Road.

Student body found

One Shubham Kumar, 17, was found with his throat slit in a litchi orchard at Raghunathpur village on Wednesday morning. The deceased was a Class XI student of Xavier Public School.

Shubham, son of Dr Manoj Kumar, did not return home at Chakbasu lane in Kachchi Sarai after attending tuition on Tuesday evening. Mithanpura station house officer Kiran Kumar said Dr Manoj lodged a case of missing when his son did not return.