Ranchi, May 6: An employee of a local shop was shot dead by unidentified men in broad daylight near the crowded New Market area under the Kotwali police station here today.

The victim, identified as Raju Gupta, was a resident of the Kanke Road area and worked as an assistant at a zarda shop.

The criminals decamped with the cash he was carrying after shooting him dead. Sources said the motive behind the murder was theft.

Police are yet to ascertain the amount he was carrying.

The incident took place at around 12.30 pm when Gupta was on his way to the Main Road. Five hooligans on two motorcycles came and shot Gupta from close range. He died on the spot. However, the criminals fled before the police arrived.

The incident has sparked panic. People blocked the New Market area for almost an hour demanding immediate arrest of the killers.

Ranchi senior superintendent of police M.V. Rao, accompanied by other officials, intervened and pacified the crowd.

Officials from the Kotwali police station said the victim was originally from Buxar.

“We have alerted all the police stations and the search is on,” he said.

An FIR has been lodged at the Kotwali police station. Efforts were on to apprehend the culprits. No one has been arrested as yet.