BJP leader Mannu Lal Patel shot dead by 2 unidentified assailants

A local leader of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) was allegedly shot dead by two motorbike-borne assailants near Madarava crossing in Lanka area in Varanasi, police said on Wednesday.

Mannu Lal Patel (45), former district vice-president of BJP Kisan Morcha wing and native of the Malahiya area here, was returning home on his bike on Tuesday night when the two assailants opened fire at him, they said.

Patel was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead, they said. The CCTV footage of the NHAI toll plaza in Lanka area will be checked to identify the assailants, police said.