Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath was shot dead late Tuesday night in the Doharia area of Madhyamgram on the outskirts of Kolkata, triggering sharp political reactions and fresh tensions in West Bengal following the recent Assembly election results.
According to reports, Rath was travelling in a Scorpio vehicle when armed assailants on motorcycles intercepted the car shortly after 10 pm. He was allegedly shot at point-blank range and died on the spot, while the driver sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital for treatment.
Describing the incident as a “cold-blooded murder,” Suvendu Adhikari claimed that the attack was carried out after days of surveillance and careful planning. He said he had spoken to West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar regarding the matter but refrained from revealing further details in view of the ongoing investigation.
Adhikari later visited the hospital along with Rath’s wife and senior BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar. He assured that the BJP would bear all medical expenses for the injured driver and extend full support to Rath’s family.
The incident has intensified the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and the ruling All India Trinamool Congress amid reports of post-poll violence across the state.
Reacting strongly to the killing, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya termed the incident deeply unfortunate and alleged that opposition leaders in the state had repeatedly faced attacks in recent years.
Meanwhile, the TMC condemned Rath’s murder and demanded strict action against those responsible. In a statement, the party also alleged that several of its workers had been targeted in recent incidents of post-poll violence allegedly involving BJP-backed miscreants.
The TMC further called for a court-monitored CBI investigation into the murder to ensure that the culprits are identified and brought to justice swiftly.
As political tensions continue to rise in Bengal after the elections, both the BJP and TMC have accused each other of orchestrating violence and attempting to create unrest in different parts of the state.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to identify the attackers.
