A 35-year-old grocer was shot and stabbed to death late on Wednesday night in the Hindpiri locality of Ranchi.

The area had hogged headlines earlier when on January 9 Gajendra Pandey (55), supervisor of a civil contractor working for a state welfare department project, was murdered in broad daylight.

Mohammed Sonu, a resident of Maulana Azad Colony in Kantatoli, was found dead at Nezam Nagar - an area under Hindpiri police station - with a knife stabbed on his neck and a bullet injury on his chest, according to residents of the locality. The victim used to deal in lands, besides running grocery shops.

"It was around 10 pm last night (on Wednesday night) when the body was recovered," a resident said, expressing a concern over the law and order in the locality where around 50,000 people reside.

Deepak Kumar, the officer-in-charge of the Hindpiri police station, parried questions on deteriorating law and order in his area.

Kumar had earlier claimed to have cracked the January 9 murder case by arresting 28-year-old Mohammed Shahid, a locality youth, within a week after the incident.

" Baat Karte Hain Bhai. Baat Karte Hain ... Abhi Ek Jagah Hai (I will talk to you. At present, I am at some place)," he hurried while responding to The Telegraph's call this afternoon. He, however, did not revert.

Hindpiri comes under deputy superintendent of police (Kotwali), Bhola Prasad.

Prasad confirmed the incident saying the deceased had a criminal background. "The deceased was a criminal," he said, replying to a query on why another murder took place within a month in this locality.

He, however, did not provide any details of the victim's criminal background. "He was a criminal that I know but I do not have specific details."

Another police official supported the fact saying "a magazine loaded with ammunition was recovered from the pocket of the deceased".

Prasad was seconded by Kishore Kaushal, superintendent of police (city).

"The deceased had a criminal background. He was wanted in as many as 16 cases, including loot, extortion and possession of illegal arms, reported at different police stations of the city," Kaushal said.

On if the police could ascertain the criminal, Kaushal said, "Effort is on."

Unconfirmed sources said a locality youth, Babu, whose father Mohammed Kalam is the locality's muscleman, has committed the murder with the help of five others.

Kaushal, however, did not confirm this saying "the investigation is going on. It is wrong to do guess work".