Patna: A gang of armed criminals shot dead Kameshwar Singh, owner of a private security agency, in Gardanibagh here on Saturday.

The assailants fired at Singh from close range around 1.30pm, killing him on the spot. Singh, a resident of Bhojpur district working in Patna, was in the basement of the Vishnu Nivas Apartment when he was attacked.

Police suspect the assailants were former employees of Singh's agency and killed him over a payment dispute.

Senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj said their identity was ascertained with the help of CCTV camera footage near the building.