The October 16 murder of Dr Deepak Shetty, a Kalyan doctor, who was shot dead as a fallout of an extortion dispute, has reduced conversations to whispers and residents are stepping outdoors with caution as the shadow of fear creeps into the confines of private households as well.

``We have orders from the police commissioner to continue combing till we get a definite lead,'' says a senior police official, who admitted that the men in uniform are under pressure from the ``higher-ups to do something''. ``But we cannot achieve much if peoplestart clamming up,'' the official says.

The police action has evoked mixed feelings in the locals, who are both alarmed by the scale of the operation though also a trifle reassured. Says the sweet-meat shop-owner who received an extortion threat: ``The caller said I should pay for rallying hoteliers here to participate in the bandh following Dr Shetty's murder.'' This has sent other small businessmen and hoteliers into a panic.

``We have stopped discussing major payments even if one person among us is not well acquainted,'' a wholesale plywood dealer told Express Newsline

. He says the number of businessmen who are victims of extortion threats far outnumbers the requests for police protection. ``After Shetty's cold blooded murder, do you think anyone would dare approach the police,'' he asks.

Pranksters have also been deriving perverse pleasure by telephoning local press reporters between 9 pm and 2.30 am, claiming to report the murder of a doctor. Refusing to name himself, the caller said: ``Justtake down the news... why should I give my name.''