Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath Shot Dead in Bengal; BJP Calls It Planned Political Murder
Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday described the killing of his close aide and personal assistant Chandranath Rath as a “pre-planned murder,” alleging that the attackers had conducted reconnaissance for several days before carrying out the deadly shooting in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.
Rath, 41, was shot at point-blank range by unidentified assailants near Madhyamgram on Wednesday night in what BJP leaders have termed a targeted political attack. The incident has intensified political tensions in West Bengal just days after the BJP’s major electoral gains in the state.
Speaking outside the hospital where Rath was taken after the attack, Adhikari said the murder was executed with clear planning and preparation.
“The incident is heart-wrenching. This is a cold-blooded and pre-planned murder. A recce was done for two to three days before the attack,” Adhikari told reporters.
He further stated that West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta had assured him of a thorough investigation into the case.
According to preliminary police findings, Rath was travelling in a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle when the attackers intercepted the car near Doharia junction in Madhyamgram around 10:30 pm. The assailants allegedly followed the vehicle before blocking its movement and opening fire from close range.
Eyewitnesses claimed the attackers first used a small four-wheeler to obstruct Rath’s SUV before a biker approached the vehicle and fired multiple shots through the rolled-up passenger-side window.
Visuals from the scene showed shattered glass, bullet marks and blood stains inside the front passenger area where Rath had been seated.
Chandranath Rath Declared Dead After Point-Blank Shooting
After the attack, Rath was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Hospital officials confirmed that Rath sustained multiple bullet injuries to the chest and abdomen. According to doctors, bullets had pierced his heart, leaving virtually no chance for emergency resuscitation.
“The victim was brought dead with multiple bullet injuries on his chest and abdominal area. There was no opportunity to revive him,” a hospital doctor stated.
Rath’s driver also suffered bullet injuries during the attack and was shifted to a Kolkata hospital. Reports indicate that his condition remains critical.
Police officials recovered live ammunition and spent cartridges from the crime scene. Forensic Science Laboratory teams later arrived at the location and conducted detailed mapping and examination of the vehicle involved in the shooting.
The West Bengal Police also seized the four-wheeler allegedly used during the attack. However, investigators later discovered that the car carried a fake and tampered registration number plate.
The vehicle, identified as a Nissan Micra, reportedly bore registration number WB74AK2270, though officials believe the plate was falsified to conceal the identity of the attackers.
Investigators suspect that multiple motorcycles may have been involved in the operation, with early findings indicating that the attackers arrived on at least four bikes before fleeing the area after the shooting.
BJP Alleges Political Message Behind Killing
The murder has triggered strong political reactions within the BJP, with party leaders describing the incident as evidence of deteriorating law and order in West Bengal.
Adhikari alleged that the attack reflected what he described as “15 years of Maha-Jungle Raj” in the state and vowed that the BJP would begin “cleansing” criminal elements following its recent electoral success.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya termed the killing a sign of the “total criminalisation of politics” in the state.
“This was a planned and targeted attack. By killing the PA of the outgoing Leader of Opposition, the assailants wanted to send a political message,” Bhattacharya said.
The murder has occurred during an especially sensitive political period in West Bengal after the BJP’s significant performance in the recent Assembly elections. Political tensions between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress have intensified sharply following the results.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar reportedly contacted Rath’s family after the incident and assured them of full support from the BJP leadership.
Chandranath Rath Was Former Indian Air Force Personnel
Before joining politics and working closely with Suvendu Adhikari, Chandranath Rath had served in the Indian Air Force for nearly two decades.
Rath was originally from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, a region considered politically significant in Adhikari’s rise within West Bengal politics.
People familiar with Rath’s background stated that he studied at Rahara Ramakrishna Mission and was deeply influenced by the spiritual values associated with the institution during his early years.
After taking voluntary retirement from the Air Force, Rath reportedly worked briefly in the corporate sector before gradually entering political and administrative coordination work.
He later became part of Suvendu Adhikari’s close inner circle and formally joined his official team around 2019 when Adhikari was still serving as a minister in the government led by Mamata Banerjee.
Rath’s family also reportedly had earlier links with the Trinamool Congress before shifting allegiance to the BJP along with Adhikari in 2020.
His mother, Hasi Rath, had previously served in a local panchayat body during the family’s association with the TMC.
Investigation Intensifies Amid Political Tension
West Bengal Police have launched a large-scale investigation into the murder, while forensic experts continue analysing ballistic evidence and CCTV footage from nearby locations.
Security agencies are also examining whether the killing was linked to political rivalry, personal enmity or organised criminal planning.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the issue of political violence in West Bengal, a state that has witnessed repeated clashes and targeted attacks involving rival political workers over the years.
Analysts believe the murder could become a major political flashpoint in the coming days, especially given the BJP’s allegation that the attack was designed to intimidate party leaders following recent electoral developments.
The BJP leadership has demanded swift arrests and a transparent investigation into the case, while opposition parties continue trading accusations over law and order in the state.
As forensic teams continue collecting evidence and police intensify efforts to identify the assailants, the killing of Chandranath Rath has rapidly emerged as one of the most politically sensitive criminal investigations in West Bengal this year.
