Chandranath Rath, Suvendu Adhikari aide, shot dead in Kolkata after West Bengal poll results

Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in the Madhyamgram area on Kolkata’s northern outskirts. Police said motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly followed and intercepted the car before firing at close range. Rath died at hospital, while his driver was critically injured, prompting heightened local tension and political reactions.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, was shot dead on Wednesday night near Kolkata. The killing came within 48 hours of the West Bengal assembly poll results. Police increased security as tension rose in the area. The attack triggered sharp political reactions across the state’s political circles.

The shooting took place at Doharia in Madhyamgram’s Doltala area in North 24 Parganas district. Sources said Rath was serving as executive assistant to the leader of the opposition. Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle fired at point-blank range. Rath was seated in the front seat next to the driver.

Chandranath Rath shooting in Madhyamgram Doltala area

Preliminary information suggested the attackers tailed Rath’s car for some time. They intercepted the vehicle and fired through a rolled-up window. The shot was fired from the opposite side, sources said. The assailants fled immediately after the firing. Investigators were working to trace the route and identify suspects.

Local news channels reported Rath was rushed to a nearby private hospital. Doctors declared Rath dead on arrival, the official media channel of the BJP said. A hospital doctor said Rath was brought dead with multiple bullet injuries. The doctor said bullets hit the chest and abdominal area. The chest injury pierced the heart.

Chandranath Rath attack leaves driver critical in Kolkata hospital

Rath’s driver also suffered bullet injuries during the attack. The driver was shifted to a Kolkata hospital. Hospital sources described the driver’s condition as critical. Police were collecting medical details to support the case. Officers were also checking for CCTV footage near the spot.

According to party sources, Rath was involved in Adhikari’s Bhabanipur campaign. The BJP leader defeated former chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee there. The death added to political tensions after the election outcome. Sources said Adhikari was on the way to the hospital.

BJP reaction after Chandranath Rath killing and political allegations

In a statement to a vernacular news channel, BJP leader and MLA-elect Kaustav Bagchi spoke at the hospital. Bagchi said, "This was a targeted attack. The assailants followed Raths car for a long time before pumping him with bullets. This is the handiwork of Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee. We will not rest until the criminals are identified. We will not cremate the body till then.\"

Newly elected BJP MLA Tarunjyoti Tewari also reacted after the killing. Tewari said, \"We have been preaching peace, but TMC has made the biggest blunder,\". Police deployed a large contingent in the area after the news spread. Senior officers reached the site and began an investigation.

Sources said police were trying to identify the assailants and determine the motive. Officers continued questioning and evidence collection at the scene. The killing deepened concern across political circles in West Bengal. Security presence remained high as investigators pursued leads. Further action depended on findings from the ongoing probe.

With inputs from PTI