Coal transporter Shakir Ahmed, 35, was shot dead on Sunday morning at Purnadih coal project area under Piparwar police station of Chatra district, some 60km from capital Ranchi, with some family members alleging that a rebel outfit was behind the murder as the victim had resisted paying levy.

Ahmed, who lived in Mahavir Nagar of Khelari police station area in Ranchi, took five bullets from unidentified gunmen on a bike around 8am when he was waiting with his brother Sardar Ahmed at the Purnadih truck weighing counter to get his coal-laden trucks weighed.

He was shot barely a few hundred metres from the police outpost. The SDPO of Tandwa, Ashutosh Satyam, said two criminals on a bike, wearing helmets, opened fire at Ahmed. On getting the first bullet, Ahmed tried to run, but the gunmen pumped four more bullets in his body, the policeman said. Rushed to a health centre at nearby Dakra, doctors advised Ahmed be rushed to Ranchi. Reaching Bhagwan Mahavir Medica Superspecialty Hospital, he was declared brought dead. The body was taken to RIMS for an autopsy, where bullet wounds were found on his head and back.

Police also recovered a large number of spent cartridges from the site of the murder.

SDPO Satyam said they were investigating the motive behind the crime and people who might have reasons to get Ahmed out of the way.

“Ahmed’s family members are being questioned on whether he received any threats or had any business rivals,” said SDPO.

A close relative of the deceased said the banned rebel outfit Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) was involved in the murder.

The TPC illegally controls coal transport in a number of mining areas of Chatra, including Piparwar and Tandwa in Chatra and Khelari in Ranchi. Ahmed had links with both Piparwar and Khelari.

Someone close to the family who did not want to be named said that Ahmed worked as a coal transporter for the Adhunik group. “Around two months back he started receiving phone calls from one Surya who said he was associated with the TPC. Surya told Ahmed that TPC area commander Adesh Gonjhu had ordered a levy of Rs 300 per truck and if Ahmed did not pay up, he would face dire consequences.”