A grocery shop owner, Vikram Jha, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants on a motorbike in Patna’s Zakariapur area (Ram Krishna Nagar) around 11 PM on Friday, July 11. According to police, the assailants opened fire at close range outside Jha’s store, Trishna Mart, and fled the scene immediately. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but declared dead on arrival.

Jha, originally from Darbhanga, was a well-known figure in the locality and ran his grocery business for several years. Police have ruled out robbery as a motive since no cash or goods were taken. CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed, and officials suspect business rivalry or personal enmity as potential reasons behind the attack.

This marks the third killing of a businessman in Patna in recent weeks, following the deaths of Gopal Khemka and Ramakant Yadav. The incident has triggered panic in the local business community, prompting calls for stronger police presence and swift action. No arrests have been made yet, and investigations are ongoing.