A supplier of minor minerals like sand, boulders and pebbles based in Hamiltonganj of Alipurduar district was stabbed to death by unidentified persons on Sunday morning.

Dilip Paul, 61, was found dead in a deserted place near Chuapara under Kalchini police station. Police recovered Rs 11,000 in cash, his phone and his two-wheeler from the spot, and hence suspect the motive was not his valuables.

Paul left home around 10am and headed to Chuapara and Raimatang on a two-wheeler, sources said. He had supplied construction materials to clients and was supposed to collect cash from them. He was stabbed between Chuapara and Raimatang. Two persons found him lying on the road and informed the police.

“It seems the killers knew his route,” said a police source.

Traders in Hamiltonganj shut shops from 7am to 11am on Monday, demanding the arrest of the culprits.

They also gave a memorandum to Kalchini police and held a candlelight march in the evening

“He was a nice man, we never heard anything wrong about him. The police should find out his assailants and the reason behind his murder,” said Gautam Saha, an executive committee member of Hamiltonganj Byabsayee Samiti.

Y. Raghubhamshi, the district police chief, said they are probing the case.

The incident has happened at a time chief minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered the police and administration to stop illegal extraction and sale of minor minerals from rivers of north Bengal.