Patna: A special investigation team (SIT) under the leadership of a deputy superintendent of police is probing Thursday's daylight robbery of Rs 52.74 lakh belonging to the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) after the murder of a cash-van guard in Samastipur.

The SIT conducted raids in Samastipur and neighbouring districts of Vaishali, Muzaffarpur and Begusarai. Sources said a police team has been sent outside the district headquarters to collect evidences against a particular gang involved in cash loot incidents.

Samastipur superintendent of police Deepak Ranjan said the police have got important clues, "but we are not willing to share the information at this stage as it will affect the investigation".

Poultry dealer killed

On Thursday late evening, motorbike-borne criminals shot dead Lalo Mahto, a poultry farm dealer, near Sihi Mor under the jurisdiction of Hasanpur police station in Samastipur district. Hasanpur police station house officer Mahadev Kamath said criminal cases were pending against Mahto, and old rivalry is suspected to be the reason behind the murder.

Lalo's wife, who was with him, survived the attack. Police sources said that the assailants were following Mahto on a motorbike.