Suvendu Adhikari's PA Shot Dead: Target Killing Alleged in Bengal's Madhyamgram

Post-poll violence continues to grip West Bengal despite the conclusion of the assembly elections. Since May 4, the state has witnessed over 400 incidents of violence, including several murders. In a significant escalation, Chandranath Rath, a close associate and personal assistant (PA) to BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead late Wednesday night in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas. The BJP has termed the incident a "target killing," while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has called for a court-monitored CBI investigation into the murder.

Sequence of the Ambush and Weaponry Used

The incident occurred around 10:10 PM on Wednesday when Chandranath Rath's Scorpio entered the Doharia area of Madhyamgram while returning to his residence. According to eyewitnesses, a small car first blocked his SUV near the Doharia junction. At approximately 10:15 PM, assailants on a motorcycle, who had reportedly been trailing the vehicle for some time, approached and opened indiscriminate fire from close range. The attackers then abandoned the small car and fled the scene on the motorcycle. Preliminary investigations suggest that a foreign-made weapon, specifically an Austrian Glock pistol, was likely used in the execution of the crime.

Medical Reports and Hospital Unrest

Both Chandranath Rath and his driver, Buddhadeb Ber, sustained critical injuries during the rapid firing. They were rushed to the hospital at 10:40 PM, where Rath was declared dead on arrival. Attending doctors noted two gunshot wounds to his chest and one to his abdomen. The driver, Buddhadeb Ber, remains in critical condition and has been moved to a hospital in Kolkata for specialized treatment, while following the news of the death, a large number of BJP workers gathered outside the hospital at 11:00 PM to protest. A three-doctor panel has been formed to conduct the post-mortem at Barasat Hospital, with Suvendu Adhikari expected to be present during the procedure.

Political Reactions and Police Investigation

Suvendu Adhikari described the murder as "heart-wrenching" and alleged that the attackers had conducted a recce before the strike. While he refrained from naming any specific organization directly, he urged party workers not to take the law into their own hands. BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya cited the incident as evidence of the "complete criminalization of politics" in the state. Conversely, the TMC condemned the killing and demanded a CBI probe, while also alleging that three of their own workers were killed by "BJP-backed goons" in the last three days. DGP Siddhanath Gupta confirmed that police have recovered cartridges and seized the small car used in the ambush.

Police sources revealed that the car used by the assailants had been repainted and fitted with a different number plate belonging to an individual named William Joseph, who has denied any knowledge of the misuse. The attackers wore helmets to avoid identification. Forensic teams have collected samples from the seized vehicle, and investigators are scanning CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to trace the escape route and identify the perpetrators. The investigation remains ongoing as the state awaits the post-mortem results before the body is handed over to the family.