Suvendu Adhikari' PA shot dead: Contract killers involved? Police launch massive hunt, say ‘Glock 47X pistols used’

The killing of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, sparked a political clash in West Bengal on Thursday, with the BJP accusing the TMC of encouraging “lawlessness,” while the ruling party dismissed the allegations.

Rath, Adhikari’s executive assistant, was shot dead in a shocking attack in Madhyamgram on Wednesday night, just 48 hours after the assembly election results, further heightening tensions in the area.

Preliminary reports say that around 10:30 pm, motorcycle-borne attackers stopped Rath’s vehicle near Doltala in Madhyamgram, forced it to halt, and opened fire at close range before escaping.

Bengal News Latest Updates

1. Contract killers involved? Police launch hunt: The West Bengal Police have begun reviewing CCTV footage and set up multiple teams to track down those involved in the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide, a senior officer said on Thursday, as reported by PTI.
2. Investigators are also looking into whether hired contract killers were used in the murder of Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday night. DGP Siddhinath Gupta and CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh visited the spot during the night.
3. "A detailed investigation has begun. We are pursuing several leads," the officer said. Rath, 42, was returning to his residence in Madhyamgram from Kolkata, when the incident occurred, he said. The vehicle was being driven by Buddhadeb Bera, who also sustained bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata, another officer said.

Chandranath Rath's car driver undergoes multiple surgeries, still critical

The driver of the car, which was targeted by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath's assailants, is in a critical condition at a hospital in Kolkata, reported PTI citing police sources.

Buddhadeb Bera, who was driving Rath's car, sustained bullet injuries and has undergone multiple surgeries, a senior official of the hospital said.

"His condition continues to be very critical. He underwent a couple of surgical procedures and is being closely monitored in the intensive care unit," the official told PTI.

Doctors were "doing everything possible" to stabilise Bera, he added.

West Bengal's post-poll tension took a bloody turn on Wednesday night after Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in North 24 Parganas in what the saffron camp described as a "targeted assassination", triggering outrage, protests and fresh allegations of political violence.

Medical Superintendent cum Vice-Principal of Barasat Government Medical College & Hospital, where Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandranath’s post-mortem was conducted, Prof (Dr) Avijit Saha said, "... We received the body around 2.30-3 AM. We put the body in the cold chamber as per the protocol since there is no provision for night PM, until there is an order from the Chief Judicial Magistrate or the police authority. The PM was conducted by a three-member team, led by our HOD, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology... Since this is a sensitive issue, the request from the police authority, local administration, and magistrate had come for a video PM... The whole process, starting from the magistrate's inquest to the final handover of the body to the relatives, started around 9.30-9.45 AM and ended around 2.30 PM..."

Assailants used Glock 47X pistols?

• The police suspect the use of sophisticated firearms during the attack, as reported by PTI. According to preliminary forensic inputs, the assailants might have used Glock 47X pistols, he said, PTI reported. "A weapon of this nature is generally not used by ordinary criminals. We are examining whether professional shooters were involved," a senior West Bengal Police officer said on condition of anonymity, PTI noted.
• Preliminary findings suggested that the assailants, suspected to be riding four motorcycles, intercepted Rath's vehicle in a coordinated manner before firing multiple rounds from close range.
• "A suspicious vehicle that allegedly blocked the way of the Rath's car has been seized. However, the number plate attached to it was found to be fake," Gupta told reporters at the spot. "We have recovered empty cartridges and live ammunition from the crime spot. At this stage, the motive behind the attack is not clear," the state DGP added.

‘Will not spare the TMC people who hatched this conspiracy’: BJP leader

BJP MP Rahul Sinha said, “This is a political murder. A complete investigation is underway. During their (TMC) time, the CBI used to investigate, and the state police would destroy evidence, but that time has changed now. Right now, BJP is in power at both the Centre and the state. CBI and CID will start working with the new government, and we will not spare the TMC people who hatched this conspiracy. We do not support violence, but we will legally seek accountability for every drop of our workers' blood and give a befitting response to TMC. In the Abhaya case, many TMC leaders escaped, but in this case, they will be held accountable, and the people of Bengal will celebrate a victory festival that day.”

What did the eyewitness say?

An eyewitness to the killing of Chandra, personal assistant to West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, said that the shots were fired at point-blank range and the attack appeared to be "pre-planned".

Suvendu Adhikari's PA was allegedly shot at, following which he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital near Madhyamgram.

The eyewitness told ANI, “Just as Chandra's car crossed mine, it suddenly stopped midway, and a bike-borne person came and started shooting on the left side of the car. The person seemed to be an expert and fled immediately. It appeared to be pre-planned. The shots were fired at point-blank range. I heard the sound of two rounds. The incident occurred between 10:30 pm and 11 pm, around 200-300 metres from the hospital. The public brought the victim to the hospital, and the driver of the car was also shot.”

Two days after the announcement of the closely contested assembly election results, the killing created shockwaves in West Bengal’s political circles. The BJP accused the TMC of carrying out retaliatory violence, while the TMC responded by alleging that its own workers were being attacked in several districts.

(With inputs from agencies)