BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant (PA) Chandranath Rath was shot dead late Wednesday night in Madhyamgram of North 24-Parganas, triggering fresh political tensions in West Bengal days after the Assembly election results.
Rath, who had reportedly played a major role in managing Adhikari's election campaigns in Nandigram and Bhabanipur, was travelling in a white Scorpio SUV when the attack took place near Doharia on Jessore Road.
Attack carried out at close range
According to BJP leader Koustav Bagchi, motorcycle-borne assailants reportedly followed Rath's SUV before intercepting it and opening fire while he was still inside the vehicle. The driver also suffered injuries and was shifted to a Kolkata hospital after initial treatment in Madhyamgram.
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Investigators believe the attackers specifically targeted Rath. According to police sources cited by Hindustan Times, the assailants fired from both sides of the SUV.
"Rath was hit in the right abdomen and left chest. The bullets pierced through the heart," doctors told the police, per an HT report.
A police officer said the attackers appeared highly trained. "The murder seems to have been committed by professionals. Chandranath Rath, who was sitting beside the driver, was the sole target," the police offer was quoted as saying by HT.
"The shots were perfectly aimed. Not a single hit the SUV's body or front windshield. A couple of bullets hit the driver as he was close to the target. The rest hit Rath's vital organs," the officer added.
Eyewitness claims attack was pre-planned
An eyewitness told ANI that the firing appeared to be carefully planned and executed at "point-blank range".
"The person seemed to be an expert and fled immediately," the eyewitness said, adding that he heard "the sound of two rounds" during the firing.
The incident reportedly took place between 10.30 pm and 11 pm, around 200-300 metre from a hospital, where locals later rushed the victims.
Outside the hospital, BJP supporters raised slogans against the ruling All India Trinamool Congress.
Reacting to the incident, Adhikari reportedly urged party workers to remain calm and was quoted as saying by HT, "I request our people not to take the law into their hands and have faith in the administration. Justice will be done."
He also stated that investigators suspect the attack was planned in advance. "We think the incident may or may not be related to politics. Police have found that the murder was planned over the last three or four days. A recce was done," he added.
Meanwhile, the TMC condemned the killing and demanded a court-monitored CBI probe into the incident.
Police examine CCTV footage
West Bengal DGP Siddhinath Gupta confirmed that police had seized a suspicious four-wheeler with a tampered number plate.
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"We have seized a vehicle. A four-wheeler. It's number plate was tampered. The number belongs to a vehicle registered in Siliguri. We have recived several live cartridges and fired cartridge cases," Gupta said.
Police are now examining CCTV footage and questioning local shopkeepers as the investigation continues.
