Patna,(BiharTimes): The station house officer (SHO) of chief minister’s home district of Nalanda, who allegedly killed the salesman of a licensed liquor shop when he refused to provide two cartons of a premium brand free of cost, is still at large four days after the incident. However, he has been suspended.

Manoj Kumar was allegedly shot dead at Asta-Kharjamma village by Ram Pravesh Singh, SHO of the Tharthari police station, on Monday night. The shoot-out sparked off widespread protest and the people blocked the road.

According to police the SHO opened fire on the salesman, Manoj Kumar, a resident of Kandupeepar village under Chandi police station of Nalanda, after he refused to oblige the police officer. He died on the spot.

Nalanda superintendent of police (SP) Nishant Kumar Tiwari said the SHO had been put under suspension and raids were being carried out to nab the other culprits.

Police sources attribute the delay in his arrest to the festival of Holi. The call details of the SHO are being scrutinized by the police to ascertain SHO’s involvement in the crime.

The FIR lodged at the Tharthari police station by the owner of the liquor shop Sanju Yadav alleged that the SHO reached his shop at around 10 pm and demanded two cartons of a premium liquor brand, free of cost. When the salesman asked him to talk to the shop owner, Singh left the premises. He returned after an hour, got the shop opened and shot the salesman, who was sleeping inside.

The SHO and other policemen in plainclothes escaped from the scene.

A few weeks back the superintendent of police of neighbouring Sheikhpura district, Babu Ram, was suspended after the police brutally tortured a liquor salesman of Barbigha block. The victim was rushed to Patna and then shifted to Delhi in precarious condition.