Professional Shooters Hired to Assassinate Suvendu Adhikari's PA; 72 Hours of Reconnaissance: SIT Reveals

On Wednesday night in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, Chandranath Rath—a close associate and personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari—was shot dead. Investigating agencies believe the assassination was carried out by professional killers who had conducted a reconnaissance of the crime scene three to four days in advance.

The incident occurred around 10:20 PM on Wednesday night in the Doharia area, situated along Jessore Road in Madhyamgram. Chandranath Rath (41) was traveling in his white Scorpio SUV. The attackers used another car to intercept his vehicle, whereupon assailants riding motorcycles opened fire from very close range (point-blank).

The attackers allegedly fired multiple rounds using Glock 47X pistols. Rath sustained three bullet wounds to his chest and abdomen, while his associate, Buddhadev Bera—who was driving the vehicle—also sustained gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition.

How ​​the Attack Unfolded

According to eyewitnesses and the police, a car blocked Rath’s SUV; subsequently, the motorcycle-borne attackers placed their pistols against the front window and opened fire. Immediately after the shooting, the attackers fled the scene on their motorcycles.

The police stated that the attackers’ vehicle bore a fake license plate. The police have seized the car used in the crime. West Bengal DGP Siddha Nath Gupta stated, “We have recovered spent cartridges and live ammunition from the crime scene.” The motive behind the murder remains unclear, and the police are currently scrutinizing CCTV footage.

Post-mortem Report

The post-mortem examination of Rath’s body confirmed that he had sustained three bullet wounds. His death was attributed to excessive blood loss and the failure of vital organs. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Suvendu Adhikari described the murder of his assistant as a “cold-blooded” and “pre-planned” act. He asserted that Chandranath Rath was targeted because of the pivotal role he played in election management, which contributed significantly to Adhikari’s victories in Nandigram and the recent Bhabanipur by-election. The official stated that the killers had conducted a recce, stalked the victim, and shot him at close range. Amidst demands by the TMC for a CBI inquiry, he asserted that the police are working in the right direction.