Tension gripped West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district after unidentified assailants shot and killed the personal assistant of BJP leader and outgoing Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, on Tuesday.
The incident occurred just two days after the BJP’s victory in the state assembly elections. The victim, identified as Chandranath Rath, was a long-time close aide of Adhikari. The driver of their vehicle also sustained serious bullet injuries in the attack and has been shifted to a hospital in Kolkata for advanced treatment.
The Incident and Investigation
According to police reports, the attackers opened fire on the vehicle before fleeing the scene. In response to the high-profile killing, a large contingent of police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) has been deployed in the area to maintain order.
- Evidence: Police are currently examining CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify the gunmen.
- Context: Rath had been a loyal associate of Adhikari since his tenure with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and transitioned to the BJP alongside him.
- Role: He played a pivotal role in managing election logistics, specifically handling responsibilities in the high-stakes Bhabanipur constituency.
Political Firestorm and Protests
The killing has sparked immediate political outrage. Senior BJP leaders, including State President Sukanta Majumdar and Arjun Singh, rushed to the hospital following the news.
Outside the medical facility, hundreds of BJP workers gathered to stage a massive protest, chanting slogans against the state administration. The party has categorized the incident as a “targeted political hit.”
“This is a cold-blooded murder aimed at intimidating our leadership,” a senior BJP spokesperson stated. “We demand the immediate arrest of those responsible.”
Allegations and Silence
The BJP has pointed fingers directly at the TMC leadership, demanding action against:
- Mamata Banerjee
- Abhishek Banerjee
- Rathin Ghosh (TMC MLA who recently won the Madhyamgram seat by a slim margin of 2,399 votes).
As of Tuesday evening, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has not issued an official response to the allegations. Police officials have stated that while the probe is ongoing, they are looking into all possible angles, including political rivalry and personal enmity.
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