Kaithal, March 18
Residents today observed a bandh in protest against the murder of a businessman here last night. He had been receiving extortion demands.

The businessman, Narinder Arora, a plywood dealer, was shot at point-blank range in the head while closing his shop on the Chatrawas road.

He was taken to a private nursing home but was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. He succumbed to his injuries on way to the PGI.

Shops, commercial establishments and even kiosks remained closed following a call for the bandh given by the Beopar Mandal.

The protesters blocked traffic for about three hours at the Pehowa chowk, demanding the Deputy Commissioner and the SP come to the spot.

The blockade was lifted after the Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.S. Malik, and the SP, Mr Navdeep Singh Virk, reached the spot and announced that the killers were identified and a case was registered against eight persons.

The SP said the gunman attached with the businessman was suspended as he had left before his duty ended. He suspected the involvement of the Surinder Geong gang in the incident.

The jeep of the local SDM, Mr Ashok Garg, was smashed by the protesters, while minor damage to window panes of two buses.