Murder of BJP Leader's Aide Raises Alarms in West Bengal Politics
Tragic Incident Near Kolkata Airport
The murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday night in Madhyamgram near Kolkata Airport, has sparked serious concerns regarding law and order in West Bengal. Initial investigations suggest that this incident appears to be a meticulously planned attack rather than a random crime. According to investigators, the assailants conducted surveillance of the area for approximately 72 hours before executing the attack, which occurred around 10 PM when they ambushed Rath's SUV.
Details of the Attack
In this brutal attack, 38-year-old Chandranath Rath was killed, while the driver, Buddhadev Bera, sustained serious injuries. A passenger named Mintu managed to duck and avoid the gunfire, and he is currently being interrogated. Police reports indicate that at least four attackers arrived on two motorcycles. They initially blocked Rath's vehicle with a silver hatchback before opening fire through the front passenger window, discharging a total of eight rounds. The firearms used were semi-automatic pistols, likely linked to trained shooters rather than common criminals.
Last Moments Captured on Video
A video has surfaced showing the moments after Chandranath Rath was shot, where locals are seen helping him into a vehicle to rush him to the hospital, expressing hope that he was still alive.
Professional Hitmen Suspected
A source from the investigation stated, 'The type of weapons used and the precision of the attack indicate that this was likely the work of professional hitmen.' Following the incident, the attackers fled in different directions; one motorcycle headed towards the airport while the other escaped through back alleys. The hatchback used in the crime was later found abandoned near Sahara Bridge, and police have also recovered one of the motorcycles. Investigators discovered that the license plates on both vehicles were fake.
Efforts to Conceal Evidence
Moreover, the chassis numbers of the vehicles involved in the attack were deliberately erased to hinder tracing back to their actual owners. The license plate used matched that of a vehicle belonging to a tea garden worker in North Bengal, but police confirmed that he had no connection to the murder. The investigation is now being led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under CID IG Anup Jaiswal, which includes officials from the intelligence branch, STF, and Barasat police. Empty cartridges and live rounds have been recovered from the scene, but the motive behind the murder remains unclear.
CCTV Footage Provides Key Insights
CCTV footage has provided crucial evidence, showing a silver hatchback entering Sheikh Mujib Road at around 10 PM, the same road leading to Orchard Estate where Rath lived with his family. Approximately eight minutes later, Rath's vehicle arrived, and the hatchback blocked its path. Within two minutes, helmeted bikers were seen fleeing the scene. The post-mortem report revealed that Rath had sustained three gunshot wounds—two to the chest and one to the abdomen—leading to his death from excessive blood loss and multiple organ failure before reaching the hospital.
Political Implications and Reactions
Suvendu Adhikari has labeled the murder as 'completely premeditated,' asserting that Rath was targeted due to his significant role in the BJP's victory against Mamata Banerjee in the Bhawanipur elections. Adhikari claimed that the attackers had been tracking Rath and executed the murder with thorough preparation. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has called for a CBI investigation under court monitoring, a request Adhikari has dismissed, expressing confidence in the police's ongoing investigation. Additionally, Siliguri BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh claimed he was on a call with Rath at the time of the shooting, and the call abruptly disconnected. When he called back, someone else answered, stating that Rath had been shot.