April 24, Kathmandu – In Madhyamgram, located in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, the personal assistant of newly elected BJP Member of Parliament Suvendu Adhikari, Chandranath Rath, was fatally shot. The assailants arrived on motorcycles in the Doharia area late Tuesday night and opened fire on Adhikari’s personal assistant.
Suvendu Adhikari, who was a close aide of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee for a long time, had recently switched allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party and defeated Mamata in the recent assembly elections. In the West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP secured a two-thirds majority by winning 206 seats, preparing to form the state government for the first time. It was during this politically sensitive period that the shooting incident occurred.
Chandranath Rath was targeted with indiscriminate gunfire while traveling in a car. Despite being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, doctors declared him dead, according to Indian media reports. The driver, Buddhadev Berasam, was also injured and is reported to be in serious condition. He has been admitted to a hospital in Kolkata. Initial reports suggest that approximately eight assailants on four motorcycles executed a premeditated attack. Following the incident, BJP leaders and workers have expressed intense outrage. The police have increased security measures and an investigation into the incident is underway.
