Suvendu Adhikari calls killing of aide Chandranath Rath ‘premeditated murder’; calls not to take law into one’s hands

New Delhi: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday called the killing of his close aide Chandranath Rath “heartbreaking” and claimed it was a “premeditated murder” carried out after days of surveillance. Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate the murder case in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.After the incident, Adhikari told reporters: “The killing of my aide Chandranath Rath is heart-wrenching; we condemn it. We appeal to everyone not to take the law into their own hands.”Adhikari also said that senior police officials briefed him on the situation. “The Attorney General has assured me that the police will investigate the cold-blooded murder of my aide, Chandranath Rath. Apart from my aide, one of our cadres was shot at in Basirhat and another was stabbed in Bara Nagar. “He further claimed that the attack was carefully planned. According to him, Home Minister Amit Shah and party president Nitin Nabin have been informed about the incident. “This was a premeditated murder, that’s what the Attorney General said. The investigation was carried out for two to three days and the murder was well planned. The police launched an investigation… We are devastated and cannot find words to condemn the incident. Our entire leadership in Delhi has been informed about the incident. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar spoke to the family and the police… Various leaders and selected MLAs are here from their districts...The police have found some evidence and they will investigate,” he said. Slamming the TMC, Adhikari said, “This is the result of 15 years of Maha-Jungle Raj. The BJP will start cleaning out the goons here. “Adhikari’s administrative assistant Chandranath Rath was shot dead near Doharia on Jessore Road in Madhyamgram district late on Wednesday night. Police said he was driving when assailants on motorcycles intercepted his vehicle and opened fire at close range.He was taken to a private nursing home, where doctors pronounced him dead.The incident triggered a major political backlash, with the BJP leader claiming it was a “planned and targeted attack”.“According to our information, four to five persons were riding motorcycles when the victim was shot… Besides, four to five motorcycles were also involved in the incident,” said BJP leader Sujay Kumar Dey.ALSO READ | Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram, West Bengal.He added that Rath appeared to have been specifically targeted: “Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant and driver were both in the car; however, only his personal assistant was targeted and killed.”Claiming political motivation, another BJP leader Keya Ghosh said: “He was targeted out of anger and frustration.”

TMC demands CBI probe, calls violence ‘unacceptable’

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has condemned the killing of Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram and alleged a series of violence involving its workers following the recent polls.In an official statement released onThe party has called for tough action and an investigation into the incident. The statement further read: “We demand the strongest possible action in this matter, including a court-supervised CBI investigation, so that those responsible are immediately identified and brought to justice. Violence and political killings have no place in a democracy and the guilty must be held accountable at the earliest.”

The police have collected evidence and the investigation is ongoing

West Bengal Deputy Inspector General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta said police had launched a comprehensive investigation and recovered evidence from the scene. “We have started investigation into the case. We have seized the four-wheeler used in the crime… We have found live ammunition at the spot and fired bullets.”Officials added that the car’s number plate appeared to have been tampered with and CCTV footage was being examined. No arrests have been made so far.

Who is Chandranath Rath? Former Air Force personnel becomes Adhikari’s key aide

Chandranath Rath is a close aide of Suvendu Adhikari and hails from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. Before entering politics, he served in the Indian Air Force for nearly two decades, where he built his career in highly disciplined administrative and operational positions.After voluntary retirement from the armed forces, Rath worked briefly in the corporate sector before gradually moving towards political and organizational responsibilities in Bangladeshi politics.Over time, he became a trusted colleague of Suvendu Adhikari and was closely involved in the day-to-day coordination of the Office of the Leader of Opposition.Party sources said Rath was part of Adhikari’s core team and was responsible for key behind-the-scenes responsibilities including organizational planning, communication with local party workers and campaign logistics during major electoral battles in the state.He played an active role in high-stakes political campaigns, including constituency strategy during the crucial elections in West Bengal, and was regarded within the party as a reliable and discreet coordinator.