Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal late Wednesday night.
The incident has intensified political tensions in the state following the recently concluded Assembly elections, in which the BJP secured a major victory by winning 207 out of 294 seats.
Rath was known for playing a crucial role in managing election campaigns for Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies.
Attack Carried Out With Precision
According to BJP leaders and police officials, motorcycle-borne attackers intercepted Rath’s white Scorpio SUV near Doharia in Madhyamgram before opening fire at close range.
Police said the attackers fired from both sides of the vehicle, targeting Rath specifically. He sustained bullet injuries to the abdomen and chest. Doctors later confirmed that the bullets pierced vital organs, leading to his death.
The SUV driver was also injured during the attack and was shifted to a hospital in Kolkata for treatment.
A senior police officer stated that the attackers appeared to be professionally trained.
“The shots were accurately aimed and the victim seemed to be the sole target,” the officer said.
Eyewitness Describes Incident
An eyewitness told media persons that the shooting appeared to be carefully planned. According to the witness, the attackers arrived on motorcycles and opened fire at point-blank range before fleeing immediately.
The witness said the incident occurred between 10:30 pm and 11:00 pm, only a short distance away from a nearby hospital.
Local residents quickly gathered at the scene and rushed the injured victims for medical assistance.
Suvendu Adhikari Appeals for Calm
Reacting to the incident, Suvendu Adhikari urged BJP supporters to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
He said the police had assured a proper investigation into the murder and added that authorities were examining whether the attack had any political connection.
Adhikari also stated that investigators suspect the crime may have been planned over several days, with reconnaissance reportedly conducted before the shooting.
The BJP leader assured support to Rath’s family and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Police Investigating Suspicious Vehicle
Police teams have started examining CCTV footage from the area and questioning nearby shopkeepers to identify the attackers.
West Bengal Director General of Police Siddhinath Gupta confirmed that investigators seized a suspicious four-wheeler linked to the case.
Officials said the vehicle carried a tampered registration number connected to another car registered in Siliguri. Police later discovered that the original vehicle owner had no connection with the incident.
Authorities also recovered live cartridges and fired bullet cases from the crime scene.
Security agencies across border districts have been alerted as the investigation continues.
TMC Demands Court-Monitored CBI Probe
The ruling All India Trinamool Congress condemned the killing and called for a court-monitored CBI investigation.
The party stated that political violence has no place in democracy and demanded immediate identification and arrest of the accused.
The Trinamool Congress also claimed that several of its workers had been attacked in incidents of post-poll violence in recent days.
Political Tension Rises After Bengal Poll Results
The murder comes amid heightened political unrest in West Bengal after the Assembly election results were announced earlier this week.
Officials said more than 1,500 people have been arrested across the state in connection with post-poll violence incidents.
Central security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas of Madhyamgram and outside the hospital where Rath was taken following the attack.
The investigation into the killing is ongoing, and police are working to determine the motive behind the murder.
