Patna, Dec. 12: The recovery of the body of a businessman this morning, the third in the past three days, has triggered panic in the business fraternity in the state.

Police recovered the body of one Mohammed Raunak, alias Guddu, in Bihta, around 35km west of Patna, today. Raunak, a shoe wholeseller, was found shot in the head. He had come to Bihta yesterday to collect dues from shops he supplied shoes.

“The man was a resident of Milky Mohalla under Town police station in Ara district, around 60km from the state capital. Yesterday morning, Raunak came to the state capital. When he did not return till late night, his family members approached the police. His body, recovered from Lahkhan Tola area, was sent for post-mortem,” an officer at Bihta police station told The Telegraph.

Around 8.30pm last Saturday, one Santosh Kumar, who used to run three private hostels and had other businesses, was shot dead by one Kissu, a friend of the victim, in Kaath Pul area under Khajekala police station.

The police said the shooter and another man had been nabbed in the case, while raids were on to arrest two others.

“Santosh was driving a motorcycle and Kissu riding pillion. The latter suddenly whipped out a country-made pistol and shot at Santosh from point-blank range before fleeing the spot. We are hunting for two other men. Though the reason of the murder is not clear till now, it is definitely related to financial transaction. Investigation is being conducted,” city east superintendent of police (SP) Kim, told The Telegraph.

In another case, Radheshyam Lal, a hardware trader, was shot dead while he was closing his shop in Mokama, around 100km east of the state capital, around 8pm on Saturday. He had been receiving extortion calls for almost a month. All shops in Mokama kept their shutters down yesterday as a mark of protest against the murder.

The police said four people, including the shooter, have been nabbed and the murder weapon has also been recovered.

“The man owns a shop in Mokama. The henchmen of Bipin Yadav, who is presently lodged in Barh jail, were pressurising Radheshyam to vacate the shop and pay Rs 50,000. Bipin ordered the killing of Lal. More people are involved in the murder and investigations are on to track them down,” a police officer at Mokama told The Telegraph.

The back-to-back killings have jolted the business community.

“It is really a cause of concern for the traders’ community in Bihar. The state government should ensure that the business community is safe. Then only can investments be expected. The situation will only deteriorate if strict actions are not taken. The police should keep aside their lax attitude and be alert,” said S.L. Sinha, who owns a department store in the city.

Dec. 10: Radheshyam Lal, a hardware trader, shot dead while closing his shop in Mokama. He had been receiving extortion calls for almost a month

Case status: Shooter and three others arrested. Murder weapon recovered

Dec. 10: Santosh Kumar, running three private hostels and other businesses, shot dead by one Kissu, in Kaath Pul area under Khajekala police station

Case status: Shooter and another man nabbed. Raids on to arrest two others

Dec. 12: Mohammed Raunak, alias Guddu, a shoeseller from Ara district, found shot in the head in Lahkhan Tola area of Bihta.

Case status: Investigations on