Agra, Jan 21 (IANS): Police on Thursday continued their search for criminals who kidnapped and killed an Agra-based owner of a hotel and two petrol pumps.

Anek Singh Sikarwar, 70, is thought to have been abducted and murdered on Tuesday night or possibly after midnight on Wednesday, somewhere near Khandauli in Agra district.

His body was found in his car after midnight on Wednesday. Sikarwar had left for his home on Tuesday around 6.30 p.m. from one of his petrol pumps on the Agra-Firozabad highway.

He reportedly had with him Rs.9-10 lakh, the day's collection from the hotel and petrol pumps. The police found the money missing. 

Police said Sikarwar had been stabbed with a knife six times. A police officer said they were working on several leads.

Traders in Kamla Nagar here kept their businesses shut on Thursday to protest against the deteriorating law and order in Agra. 

Senior Superintendent of Police Preetinder Singh said the inspector of the Etmadpur police station, under whose jurisdiction the crime occurred, had been removed from his post.