The killing of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, sparked a political clash in West Bengal on Thursday, with the BJP accusing the TMC of encouraging “lawlessness” while the ruling party denied the charge.
Rath, Adhikari’s executive assistant, was shot dead in a shocking attack in Madhyamgram on Wednesday evening, just 48 hours after the assembly election results, further raising tensions in the area.
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Chandranath Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram by motorcycle-borne assailants who intercepted his vehicle, forced him to stop and then opened fire at close range before fleeing. The attack took place around 10:30 p.m., shortly after the results of the parliamentary elections were announced.
Preliminary forensic reports indicate that the attackers may have used Glock 47X pistols. Police noted that such sophisticated firearms are not typically used by common criminals, raising suspicions that professional shooters were involved.
Chandranath Rath was a close associate of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and a former Indian Air Force personnel who served for nearly two decades. After retiring from the IAF, he moved into political coordination and administrative roles and became a trusted associate of Adhikari.
Suvendu Adhikari described Chandranath Rath’s killing as a “cold-blooded murder” and claimed that it was the result of 15 years of TMC’s “Mahajungle Raj”. He also suggested that the attackers conducted a reconnaissance before the attack.
The West Bengal Police is examining the CCTV footage and has formed several teams to trace the culprits. They are investigating leads, including the possibility of hitmen and the use of sophisticated firearms such as Glock 47X pistols.
Read also | Suvendu Adhikari reacts to aide’s killing: ‘Cold-blooded murder’
Preliminary reports say that around 10:30 pm, assailants on motorcycles stopped Rath’s vehicle near Doltala in Madhyamgram, forced him to stop and opened fire at close range before fleeing.
Assassins involved? The police launched a hunt
The West Bengal Police has started examining CCTV footage and has constituted several teams to trace those involved in the killing of a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, a senior officer said on Thursday, according to PTI.
Investigators are also probing whether hired hitmen were used in the murder of Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday night.
DGP Siddhinath Gupta and CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh visited the site during the night.
Read also | Suvendu Adhikari’s PA shot dead: BJP says ‘we expected that’; TMC reacts
“A detailed investigation has begun. We are following several leads,” the officer said.
Rath, 42, was returning to his residence in Madhyamgram from Kolkata when the incident took place, he said.
The vehicle was driven by Buddhadeb Bera, who also sustained gunshot injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata, another officer said.
Did the attackers use Glock 47X pistols?
Police suspect the use of sophisticated firearms in the attack, as reported by PTI.
According to preliminary forensic inputs, the attackers may have used Glock 47X pistols, PTI reported.
“A weapon of this kind is not generally used by common criminals. We are investigating whether professional shooters were involved,” a senior West Bengal police officer said on condition of anonymity, PTI noted.
Preliminary findings indicated that the assailants, suspected to be riding four motorcycles, intercepted Rath’s vehicle in a coordinated manner before firing several rounds at close range.
“A suspicious vehicle has been seized which was allegedly blocking the path of Rath’s car. However, the number plate attached to it is fake,” Gupta told reporters at the spot.
“We have recovered empty cartridges and live ammunition from the crime scene. The motive behind the attack is not clear at this stage,” the state DGP added.
What did the eyewitness say?
An eyewitness to the killing of Chandra, a personal assistant to West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, said the shots were fired at close range and the attack appeared to be “pre-planned”.
PA Suvendu Adhikari was reportedly shot and succumbed to his injuries at a hospital near Madhyamgram.
An eyewitness told ANI, “Just as Chandra’s car crossed mine, it suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and a person on a bike came and started firing at the left side of the car. He seemed to be an expert and immediately ran away. It seemed pre-planned. The shots were fired from close range. I heard the sound of two shots. The incident took place between 3:00 pm and 10:00 pm. The public brought the victim to the hospital and they also shot the driver of the car.
Two days after the announcement of hotly disputed assembly election results, the killing sent shockwaves through West Bengal’s political circles. The BJP accused the TMC of carrying out retaliatory violence, while the TMC responded by claiming that its own workers were attacked in several districts.
(With input from agencies)
