The political atmosphere in West Bengal remains volatile following the recent assembly elections, as Chandranath Rath, a long-time personal assistant to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in a targeted attack late Wednesday night. The incident occurred in the Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas, just two days after the BJP’s significant electoral gains in the state. Rath, a former Indian Air Force personnel, was traveling in a vehicle when it was intercepted by motorcycle-borne assailants who opened fire at point-blank range. According to police reports, Rath sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, while his driver remains in critical condition.
Suvendu Adhikari has described the killing as a “pre-planned murder” and a deep personal loss, calling for a swift and thorough investigation. While the BJP leadership has alleged the involvement of Trinamool Congress (TMC) “goons,” the TMC has strongly condemned the killing and demanded a court-monitored CBI probe to identify the culprits. This assassination is part of a broader wave of post-poll unrest that has already seen multiple fatalities and over 400 arrests across the state. In response to the escalating tension, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has directed state authorities and central forces to maintain a policy of “zero tolerance” toward further violence. Forensic teams are currently examining the crime scene, where sophisticated weaponry is suspected to have been used, and police are scanning CCTV footage to track the unidentified suspects.
