Irfan Khan’s bike and shoes lie outside the DRM’s office in Dhanbad. (Gautam Dey)

Dhanbad, May 11: A contractor was shot dead by rivals minutes before the tender for a Rs 24-lakh railway project was to be opened at the DRM’s office here this afternoon.

Four men, allegedly aides of local don Fahim Khan, targeted 45-year-old Irfan Khan, a resident of Rangant Railway Colony, after a verbal duel over the contract around 12.30pm. Khan who took two bullets — one in the head and another in the abdomen — was pronounced brought dead at Central Hospital.

Dhanbad SP Ravi Kant Dhan and DSP (law and order) Sanjay Ranjan Singh, inspected the murder site, and ordered an inquiry.

According to an eyewitness, the four shot at Khan near the railway canteen outside the DRM’s office and fled towards the Bekar Bandh area.

DRM, Dhanbad, Anand Sagar Upadhyay said the last date of bidding for the lucrative civil project, meant for 14 different zones, was Monday. “The tender was to be opened today. Rivalry between contractors may be the reason behind the killing,” he said.

The victim’s son, Amir, told the police that he suspected the role of three persons in his father’s death.

Of them Mohammed Mansoor is a close aide of don Fahim Khan, currently lodged in Dhanbad jail. Mansoor is a broker and takes commission for liaisoning with railway officials for contracts.

The other two — Sonu Kasai and Mohammed Sagir — are also Fahim aides.

SP Dhan said raids were being conducted in different areas to nab the accused.