Patna, Oct 10 (IANS): A trader in auto parts and building materials was gunned down in Motihari's Bajaria area on Saturday morning, following which irate area residents put the body on National Highway-28 and blocked it for several hours.

They also put burning tyres on the highway to protest against "deteriorating law and order" in the district and demanded the suspension of Banjariya police station SHO. It is the second murder in the area in the last two months.

Victim Manoj Singh (42) had gone for a morning walk near a railway track when two unidentified men shot him from close range. He sustained three gunshot injuries in his chest and died on the spot.

Area residents alleged that police arrived late at the spot.

Earlier, businessman Chabila Singh was gunned down at in the same area and police have been unable to crack that case.

"We sent the body for post-mortem. We have got some lead about the attackers and raids are on to arrest them. Prima facie, it looks to be a case of extortion," said Banjariya SHO Sudhir Kumar.