In a major escalation of post-poll tensions in West Bengal, Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in North 24 Parganas district late Wednesday night.
The killing has triggered a sharp political confrontation between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), with the saffron party alleging it was a “targeted political assassination.”
According to police, Rath was returning home when attackers intercepted his SUV near Doltala in Madhyamgram around 10:30 pm. Eyewitnesses said a small four-wheeler blocked Rath’s vehicle near Doharia junction, after which a motorcycle-borne assailant approached and opened fire from close range before fleeing.
“We have started the investigation. The four-wheeler used in the crime has been seized, but the number plate appears to be fake and tampered with,” West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta said.
Police said live rounds and fired cartridges were recovered from the spot, while eyewitness statements are being recorded as part of the investigation.
Calling the incident a “cold-blooded and pre-planned murder,” Adhikari said preliminary findings suggest the attackers had conducted reconnaissance for several days before carrying out the attack.
“This is a pre-planned murder. A recce was done for two to three days, and the attack was meticulously executed. Police have initiated an investigation, and some evidence has already been found,” Adhikari said, urging BJP workers to maintain peace.
Adhikari is widely credited as the architect of the BJP’s landslide win in the recent assembly elections. He defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her stronghold of Bhabanipur by a margin of more than 15,000 votes .
An eyewitness told ANI that the gunman appeared to be “professionally trained” and escaped immediately after firing at Rath’s vehicle.
Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and appealed for restraint among party workers.
“Reports suggest multiple shots were fired. Let the post-mortem examination be completed first,” Majumdar said.
Meanwhile, the ruling TMC condemned Rath’s killing and demanded a court-monitored CBI investigation into the incident. The party also alleged that three of its workers had been killed in separate incidents of post-poll violence over the past three days, blaming “BJP-backed miscreants” for the attacks.
