Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in Madhyamgram, a suburb of Kolkata [1].
The attack underscores the volatile nature of political rivalry in West Bengal, where targeted violence often escalates during election cycles. The incident has sparked immediate tension between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Attackers on a bike opened fire on the victims, resulting in the death of Rath [1] and leaving one other BJP worker critically injured [4]. Following the shooting, Suvendu Adhikari visited a hospital to check on the wounded. Dibyendu Adhikari, the brother of the BJP leader, said Suvendu was not with Chandranath Rath at the time of the incident [1].
Investigators have launched a probe into the shooting. A forensic team is currently examining a white SUV linked to the case [3]. The BJP said the murder was anticipated three days prior to the attack [2].
In response to the violence, the TMC has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. A TMC spokesperson said, "We demand a CBI investigation into this targeted assassination" [2].
Suvendu Adhikari addressed the public regarding the unrest, saying, "Don't take law into your hands" [1]. The attack is being described by various parties as a targeted political assassination designed to disrupt the stability of the region [2].
“"We demand a CBI investigation into this targeted assassination."”
This assassination occurs within a broader pattern of political instability in West Bengal, where the BJP and TMC frequently clash. The demand for a CBI probe suggests a lack of trust in local law enforcement's ability to conduct an impartial investigation, highlighting the deep systemic polarization of the state's security apparatus during political contests.
