An already tense West Bengal has been pushed further to the brink after the late-night murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath triggered panic, fury, and massive security deployment across Kolkata and surrounding districts. The killing comes just days after the BJP crushed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in one of Bengal’s most bitterly fought assembly elections, winning 207 out of 294 seats — a result that has already plunged the state into political unrest.
The Assassination: How It Unfolded
According to details that have emerged so far, Chandranath Rath — a 41-year-old former Indian Air Force employee — lost his life in an execution-style killing. Investigators say he was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants who tailed his white Scorpio SUV before intercepting it near Doharia in Madhyamgram of North 24 Parganas, opening fire while he was still inside the vehicle.
The attack happened around 10:30 pm on Wednesday, just 200 metres from Rath’s residence in Barasat. As the Scorpio slowed near a traffic signal, a small Nissan Micra hatchback with a tampered number plate blocked its path. Within seconds, motorcycle-borne men approached the left side of Rath’s vehicle and fired multiple rounds at close range.
“Rath was hit in the right abdomen and left chest. The bullets pierced through the heart,” doctors told police.
Investigators believe Rath was the sole target. A police officer said the attackers appeared to have acted with precision. “The murder seems to have been committed by professionals. Chandranath Rath, who was sitting beside the driver, was the sole target. The shots were perfectly aimed.”
The Fake Number Plate Trail
Police teams are scanning CCTV footage from Jessore Road and questioning shopkeepers. Authorities also alerted police stations along the Bangladesh and Jharkhand borders. West Bengal DGP Siddhinath Gupta confirmed that investigators seized a suspicious four-wheeler with a tampered number plate belonging to a vehicle registered 557 kilometres away in Siliguri.
Political Fallout
Suvendu Adhikari urged restraint while acknowledging Bengal’s violent political history. The TMC condemned the killing while alleging several TMC workers had also been killed in post-poll violence, demanding a court-monitored CBI investigation.
Security Surge
Police deployment has been increased across Kolkata and suburbs. Over 1,500 persons have already been arrested since Monday when the assembly poll results were announced. The murder has cast a long shadow over the contentious transition of power in West Bengal.
