Bhagalpur: Sultanganj Nagar Parishad chairperson Rajkumar Guddu, who was critically injured in a broad daylight shooting inside the civic body office in Bhagalpur district on April 28, died at a Patna hospital on Saturday after battling for life for 12 days. The attack had also claimed the life of executive officer Krishna Bhushan Kumar, while the main accused, Ramdhani Yadav, was killed in a police encounter the following day.Police sources said efforts were being made to bring Guddu’s body to Sultanganj under police escort for the last rites. Family members and locals, who had been praying for his recovery, were left shocked by his death.Guddu had suffered multiple bullet injuries in the chest and head after armed assailants opened fire at close range inside the civic body office. He was first admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital at Bhagalpur before being shifted to a Patna hospital under heavy police security due to his critical condition.Executive officer Krishna Bhushan Kumar, an officer of the Bihar Municipal Service working under the urban development and housing department, was shot dead on the spot during the same attack.The incident had taken place during a meeting inside the civic body office in Sultanganj in full public view. Panic gripped the office as employees and visitors ran for safety while the attackers fired indiscriminately.According to police sources, the assailants had entered the office disguised as workers before storming into Guddu’s chamber. Investigators suspect the attackers had specifically targeted the chairperson. However, when Kumar tried to intervene, the gunmen opened rapid fire at both of them.The attackers reportedly fired several rounds from close range before fleeing the scene. Guddu was rushed to hospital in a critical state, while Kumar succumbed to injuries at the spot.The main accused, Ramdhani Yadav, was killed in an encounter with a police special investigation team during an operation in the early hours of April 29.Sources said Guddu, who was also associated with the BJP, was well known in local political and social circles. Ramdhani, husband of the Sultanganj civic body deputy chairperson Neelam Devi, was allegedly involved in a long-standing dispute with Guddu over personal issues and tenders linked to development projects.ASP (trainee) and Sultanganj police station in-charge Sayan Raja said Rajkumar Guddu died at the Patna hospital on Saturday and arrangements were being made to bring the body back to Sultanganj.BJP MLA Rohit Pandey said Guddu’s last rites would be performed at the Sultanganj burning ghat in the presence of NDA leaders and party workers.
