KOLKATA — BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant, Chandra Nath Rath, was shot dead in the Doharia area of Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night.
According to police, Rath, a close aide of Adhikari who is the frontrunner for the post of Chief Minister, was returning home in Barasat in a black Scorpio when his car was stopped by bike-borne men in the Doharia area.
Police said the attackers fired multiple rounds and shot Rath point-blank.
While Rath died on the spot, his driver who was seated next to him sustained serious injuries and was taken to the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.
Following the incident, local police in Madhyamgram quickly arrived at the scene to begin an investigation.
According to a senior police officer Indian Express spoke to, it’s a planned murder because after Rath was shot, the killer waited for him to die.
Adhikari and Rath’s wife set out for the hospital as soon as they learnt of the attack.
While speaking to reporters, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said, “This was expected…The TMC… stooped so low that they killed Suvendu Adhikari’s PA. Earlier, they have attacked our leaders including Suvendu, Dilip Ghosh and others. This is a very unfortunate incident. Even his mother is part of our party. Killing the Leader of Opposition’s PA is a message. Let the people decide. We will take legal steps.”
Meanwhile, the TMC released a statement strongly condemining the attack on Rath. In a post on X, the TMC said, “We strongly condemn the brutal murder of Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram tonight, along with the killing of three other TMC workers in incidents of post-poll violence allegedly carried out by BJP-backed miscreants over the last three days, despite the Model Code of Conduct being in force.”
“We demand the strongest possible action in this matter, including a court-monitored CBI investigation so that those responsible are identified and brought to justice without delay. Violence and political killings have no place in a democracy and the guilty must be held accountable at the earliest,” the TMC said.
According to the Indian Express, Rath had been with Adhikari since 2018. When Adhikari joined the BJP, he made Rath his personal assistant. And after Adhikari became the Leader of Opposition, Rath became his executive assistant.
DGP Siddh Nath Gupta said a total of 200 FIRs have been filed regarding post-poll incidents, leading to the arrest of 433 individuals.
“Since May 4, after the announcement of results, there have been incidents of violence, including threats, assaults, and intimidation. We have registered more than 200 FIRs and arrested 433 people so far. We have detained more than 1,100 people under preventive measures,” he said, adding that there have been reports of violence and assault since Wednesday morning.