Steel trader shot dead at Hajipur

Patna: Unidentified criminals shot dead Shushil Varshney (42), manager of a steel firm, near Gardaniya Chowk at Hajipur around 4pm on Monday. SHO of Town police station Sunil Kumar said two motorcycle-borne criminals intercepted Varshney, who was on way to Patna riding a bike, and shot him twice in chest and abdomen, killing him on the spot. “A few eyewitnesses have come forward to record their statements in connection with the killing,” the SHO said, adding that the locals rushed Varshney to Hajipur sadar hospital where the doctors pronounced him brought dead. Vaishali SP Rakesh Kumar said Varshney was probably killed over a business dispute. “The victim had lodged an FIR with sadar police station against one of the employees of the firm, Ajay Kumar alias Pappu, in connection with embezzlement of Rs 11 lakh last year. Ajay was later sent to jail,” the SP said. Varshney was a resident of Pirmohani locality in Patna. The family members of the victim have not yet lodged any written complaint with the police.