Rourkela, Jan. 13: Tension gripped the city after two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead a 25-year-old businessman on Tuesday night near Mahatab Road here.

The deceased Jahid Akhtar Ansari alias Golden was a resident of Nala Road and ran two establishments - Needs Corner and an apparel shop - in Ambagaon.

Jahid was returning from his shop around 10.30 in the night when the assailants fired at him from close range. Police said one bullet had missed the trader, but the second one hit him in the back and he collapsed on the road.

Even though Mahatab Road is usually busy, cops said that because of the cold not many people frequent the stretch at late hours. This made is easy for the killers, who had their faces covered, to commit the crime and flee.

However, when passers-by spotted Jahid lying on the road, they rushed him to Rourkela Government Hospital. Doctors at the hospital declared him dead on arrival.

The police suspect past enmity to be the reason behind the murder. In the past, he was allegedly involved in a few brawls with some of his neighbours and had shifted to Delhi.

His brother Jawed Akhtar Ansari admitted that his brother had problems with a few people. He said: "I had sent him to Delhi as he had problems in the locality. He returned a few days ago and got married a week back and was settling down with his business."

Angry over the murder, Jahid's associates staged a roadblock and downed shutters of shops here today. Traffic on Ring Road, Mahatab Road and Rourkela Main Road was affected as protestors burnt tyres and refused to allow vehicular movement.

The intervention of police and residents restored peace in the afternoon. Rourkela police chief Anirudha Singh said: "We are investigating all possible angles. No arrest has been made so far."