Patna: Police on Friday arrested two persons for the murder of a grocery shop owner, Bunty Gupta, in Gardanibagh on Thursday night.

Three men had fired at Bunty, 30, and attacked his father Dinanath Sahu, 60, at the shop in Gardanibagh's Raghunath Tola around 8.30pm. The men had come wearing surgical masks and posed as customers before attempting to rob the shop owner.

Bunty tried to resist them when he was shot four times in chest. His father came to his rescue but was shot in the foot.

Both were admitted to Paras HMRI Hospital where Bunty was declared dead, and Sahu discharged on Friday afternoon.

The police arrested Nishant, alias Nishu, and his associate Sunny from the Phulwarisharif area, around 9km from the city centre. The third assailant present at the spot, Tariq, is absconding.

The assailants were identified, the police said, with the help of CCTV camera footage from the shop.

Senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj said: "The police have arrested two people involved in the murder within 12 hours. There were seven people involved in the loot attempt. The rest of the accused will be arrested soon."

Maharaaj said the criminals were led by gangster Ravi Gupta who, he claimed, was also present at the murder spot. The police have also recovered Rs 50,000 robbed from the shop, a pistol and a country-made katta with two bullets each. A special team has been formed to solve the case, Maharaaj added.

Gardanibagh police station house officer Shartendu Sharat said: "Sahu lodged the FIR with Gardanibagh police station around 12.30am on Friday."

Residents and businessmen in the area protested against deteriorating law and order condition in the city on Friday. They torched tyres on the road. Ram Kumar, one of the residents, said: "The criminals no longer fear the police. We demand immediate action and justice for the deceased and his family."