Chandranath Rath, a close aide to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on the night of May 6, 2024 [1].
The killing occurred during a period of heightened post-poll tension in West Bengal. The incident underscores the volatile security situation in the region and the ongoing friction between opposing political factions.
Rath served as a personal assistant and close associate to Adhikari. He was killed in the Madhyamgram area, located in the North 24 Parganas district [1, 2]. Some reports identify the location as the Dakkhin 24 Parganas district [2].
Suvendu Adhikari described the event as a "cold-blooded murder," he said [2]. Adhikari characterized Rath as his "most trusted political fixer," he said [3].
The BJP has alleged that the shooting was not a random act of violence but a "targeted political assassination," a party spokesperson said [1]. The party maintains that the killing was politically motivated, occurring in the wake of recent election results [1].
Local authorities have not yet released a formal motive or identified suspects in the killing of the one victim [1]. The incident has sparked fresh demands from BJP leadership for increased security and a thorough investigation into the targeted nature of the attack [1].
“"It is a cold-blooded murder."”
The killing of a high-profile political aide in West Bengal reflects the persistent pattern of political violence that often follows electoral cycles in the state. By labeling the event a targeted assassination, the BJP is framing the incident as a systemic failure of law and order, likely using the event to pressure the state government and mobilize supporters during a period of post-poll instability.
