Hasirani Rath, the mother of slain BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath, on Thursday demanded strict punishment for those responsible for her son's killing and alleged that the murder was politically motivated.
Chandranath Rath was shot near Madhyamgram in West Bengal on Wednesday and later died in hospital.
'I want life imprisonment for them'
Speaking to reporters, Hasirani Rath said she wanted the accused to receive life imprisonment.
"I want the guilty to be punished. I am a mother, I do not want them to be hanged. I want life imprisonment for them," ANI quoted her as saying.
She also alleged that the killing was linked to the political situation in the state after the BJP's rise.
"They did this because the BJP came to power. Our state president and leaders are repeatedly saying to maintain law and order in the state. But those from the ruling party who were making various provocative comments, who were saying that after the 4th, the fathers of Delhi will not be able to save us, so after the 4th, they showed it," she alleged.
Family alleges political conspiracy
Hasirani Rath said the family had been facing threats and tension since Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram.
"If my son had died in an accident, I would not have been so sad. The way the miscreants tortured and killed my son, these are all stories made up by the Trinamool. Since Suvendu Babu defeated Mamata Banerjee, my family has faced such a danger," she alleged.
Adhikari calls killing 'pre-planned'
Adhikari earlier described the incident as a "cold-blooded and pre-planned murder" and appealed to party workers to remain calm.
"This is a pre-planned murder, and this is what the DGP said. A recce was done for two to three days, and a murder was fully planned. The police initiated an investigation," he told reporters.
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He added that senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, had spoken to the victim's family and police officials following the incident.
"The police have found some evidence, and they will investigate. This is the result of 15 years of Maha-Jungle Raj. BJP will start the cleansing work of the goons here," Adhikari said.
