Patna: A teacher couple was shot at and critically injured by a gang of armed criminals on Pali-Arwal Road in Patna rural on Monday.

The couple identified as Sunil Kumar, 40, and his wife, Kiran, 35, was rushed to Paliganj referral hospital from where he was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital.

The incident occurred around 1pm when the couple was returning home from their school on a motorcycle. The assailants intercepted the victims and fired three shots leading to bullet injuries to Sunil, who was posted at Upgraded Middle School at Shivnagar in Arwal.

Kiran, who was posted at Parha Middle School in Arwal, also received bullet injury in her attempt to save her husband. The incident occurred when they were on way to their Paliganj residence. The police said a few residents spotted the couple lying in a pool of blood and got them admitted to the referral hospital.

The reason behind the attack was yet to be ascertained. Station house officer of Paliganj police station Arun Kumar Singh said the condition of the injured was critical.

In another incident, a 24-year-old married woman was murdered allegedly by her in-laws at Khokhna village in Patna rural on Monday.

Station house officer of Fatuha police station Mohammad Naseem Ahmed said the deceased identified as Jyoti Devi was strangulated to death. The body of the deceased was sent to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. The victim's relatives alleged that Jyoti was killed allegedly for dowry.