Suvendu Adhikari Alleges Political Conspiracy After Close Aide Shot Dead in Bengal Ambush

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday alleged that the killing of his close aide and personal assistant Chandranath Rath was politically motivated and linked to the BJP’s recent electoral victory over Mamata Banerjee in the politically sensitive Bhabanipur Assembly constituency. The murder of Rath, a former Indian Air Force officer who had worked closely with Adhikari for several years, has triggered massive political outrage in West Bengal and intensified concerns over escalating political violence in the state following the Assembly election results.

Rath was shot dead late Wednesday night in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district in what investigators believe was a carefully coordinated assassination. According to police and eyewitness accounts, the attack took place around 10.30 pm when Rath was returning home in a black Scorpio SUV along with his driver and another associate. The incident occurred near Doltala, barely 170 metres from Rath’s residence.

Investigators said Rath’s vehicle was first intercepted by a suspicious car carrying fake registration plates. The blocking vehicle allegedly forced the Scorpio to slow down and stop in the middle of the road. Within seconds, several motorcycle-borne assailants surrounded the SUV and opened fire at close range through the side windows.

Police sources said at least four motorcycles were involved in the operation and the attackers appeared to have tracked Rath’s movements in advance. Witnesses claimed the gunmen fired multiple rounds in rapid succession before fleeing the scene immediately after the attack. Preliminary forensic findings suggest that sophisticated firearms, possibly Glock 47X pistols, may have been used during the shooting. 

Doctors at the hospital where Rath was taken said he was brought dead with multiple bullet injuries to his chest and abdomen, including one that pierced his heart. His associate and driver sustained injuries in the firing and remain under treatment. 

Eyewitnesses described the attackers as highly trained and professional. One witness told reporters that the shooters appeared calm and precise during the ambush and escaped within moments after firing at point-blank range. Police recovered empty cartridges and live ammunition from the scene, while CCTV footage from nearby roads is being examined as part of the investigation. 

Adding to suspicions of a planned operation, investigators believe the attackers had conducted surveillance on Rath for several days before carrying out the murder. Adhikari himself alleged that the killers had “recced” the area for two to three days and called the incident a “pre-planned murder.” Visuals from the scene showed the SUV’s windshield shattered by bullets and blood stains across the vehicle’s seats. 

Reacting strongly to the killing, Adhikari claimed Rath had been targeted because of the BJP’s major electoral gains in Bengal and particularly the symbolic defeat of Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. He accused ruling Trinamool Congress workers of creating an atmosphere of fear and violence in the state, though no official evidence has yet linked the attackers to any political organisation.

The Trinamool Congress condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. Senior party leaders rejected the BJP’s allegations and accused the opposition of attempting to politicise a criminal case before the completion of the probe.

Rath, regarded as one of Adhikari’s most trusted associates, had joined the BJP leader’s political team in 2019 after retiring from the Air Force. He played an active role in organisational coordination and campaign management during the Assembly elections. Within BJP circles, he was seen as an influential behind-the-scenes strategist closely involved in the party’s operations in Bengal. The murder has further heightened political tensions in the state at a time when reports of post-election clashes and violence are emerging from several districts. Security agencies have intensified surveillance in sensitive areas, while the state police and CID continue investigations into what is increasingly being viewed as a highly organised targeted killing.