A 37-year-old realtor was shot dead near Belilious Park in Howrah’s Tikiapara on Saturday night, police said.

Amit Haith had turned up riding pillion on his business partner's two-wheeler in response to a call from an unknown person, who had possibly promised him some payment in cash on Saturday night.

Police said the bullet, fired from a close range, pierced through Amit's forehead and he slumped to the ground bleeding.

CCTV footage shows the assassins fleeing the spot on a two-wheeler.

Officers from Bantra police station detained six persons till Sunday for questioning in connection with the murder.

“We have started scanning the call records of the victim. Business rivalry seems to be the motive. But we are not rushing to any conclusion yet and are investigating the case from all angles," said an officer of the police station.

“There are a few unanswered questions. Hopefully we will crack the case soon.”

In a reconstruction of the events that led to the murder, the police suspect Amit was shot around 8.30pm on Saturday. The man who allegedly called Amit was unknown to him, the police said.

“Amit decided to meet him because of an offer the man had apparently made -- in all possibility a hefty sum in cash that was long due,” an officer said.

The caller kept directing Amit over the phone while he was approaching Belilious Park on Saturday night.

After the two met, an assailant came from behind and shot twice aiming at Amit’s forehead.

The police are trying to find out whether those involved with Amit in his real estate business and his former associates were behind the murder. Recently, a couple of Amit's employees wanted to become his business partners, the police said.

The sleuths are also investigating the role of a man who was once Amit’s business partner but later became his rival.