Keonjhar, Nov. 22: A trader was shot dead by the five unidentified persons near State Bank of India at Keonjhar district headquarter town here today.

The deceased has been identified as Patel Mohanta, 39, a mineral trader of Bamiaberi in the district. Five motorcycle-borne persons shot him from a close range, the police said.

Mohanta came in his SUV vehicle accompanied by his driver to a nearby market at Keonjhar town to purchase a winter garment at about 9.30am today.

The incident occurred while he was purchasing the garment from a shop.

“When Mohanta was busy purchasing from a shop near State Bank of India branch, five unidentified youths came on two motorcycles and fired at him from a pistol. They fled away with their bikes soon after the firing,” said Rabindra Sahu, an eyewitness.

“On being informed by the local people, we rushed to the spot and shifted the seriously injured Mohanta to the district headquarters hospital. Finding him in critical state, the doctor on duty referred Mohanta to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. He succumbed to injuries on the way to Cuttack,” said Dipti Ranjan Ray, additional superintendent of police (ASP) of Keonjhar.

While eyewitness said that the goons fired five to six rounds of bullets at Mohanta, police said only two bullets pierced his body.

“Only two bullets were found in the body during post mortem,” the ASP said.

Since he dealt in minerals and was also a transporter, the police suspect business rivalry as motive behind the murder. “We have stared investigating the incident. A case has been registered against the accused,” Ray said.