Several theories are doing the round over the killing of a sand supplier, Pramod Mahto, alias Pete Mahto (31), who was shot dead near crowded Birsa Chowk in the capital on Saturday evening with police failing to make any significant headway in the case even after 48 hours.

Police, probing business rivalry as a possible trigger, picked up at least five persons for interrogation even as sources hinted at PLFI involvement in the murder.

Pramod, a native of Ghansibari village in Karra area of Khunti, was sitting under a passenger shade on Ranchi-Khunti Road, hardly 1km from the state Assembly, around 7.45pm when two bike-borne men fired a bullet at him from close range.

The trader, who used to live in a rented house beside Gramin Bank near Birsa Chowk under Jagannathpur police station area, took a bullet in the right cheek and died on the spot.

On the basis of the FIR filed by deceased's brother Deochand Mahto, police picked up Pramod's business partner Kartik Ram for interrogation. This apart, four others, who had some kind of business terms with Pramod, were brought to Jagannathpur thana for questioning, but in vain.

"Deochand alleged that though Kartik and Pramod were partners, they did not enjoy a very cordial relation. He alleged that Kartik had committed the crime with the help of his brother-in-law Harihar Mahto, who has links with PLFI," said a police officer. He could not elaborate on the other four.

When contacted, ASP (Hatia) Prashant Anand refused to divulge the details. "Some people have been brought to the police station for interrogation. But, no one has been arrested so far," he said.

ASP Anand, however, suggested that Pramod had criminal antecedents. "Several cases are pending against him (Pramod) in Khunti district."

Sources from Khunti said Pramod was known as Peta, a notorious figure in the district.

"He was associated with the Jaynath Sahu-led Samrat gang, which has been at loggerheads with PLFI over extortion and area domination. Pramod shifted to Ranchi around four years ago but the PLFI rebels had been after him. Two years ago, PLFI rebels had made an unsuccessful attempt to kill him. Last week, Pramod bagged the contract for collecting tax from Gudri market in Khunti against the will of PLFI rebels. Thus, PLFI involvement in the murder cannot be ruled out," a police officer from Khunti said.