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The stretch between Doltala and Madhyamgram Chowmatha usually remains crowded deep into the night. On Wednesday, traffic froze for a few moments after a white Scorpio SUV came to a sudden halt near Doharia. Seconds later, gunshots shattered the silence.
When locals ran towards the vehicle, they found Chandranath Rath bleeding heavily inside the SUV. The 42-year-old, known within Bengal BJP circles as one of Suvendu Adhikari’s most trusted aides, died shortly after reaching the hospital.
Investigators now believe the attackers carefully planned the operation instead of acting on impulse.
Police sources suspect the assailants tracked Rath’s movements from the airport corridor before moving in near Madhyamgram. Officers believe several motorcycles followed the SUV while another vehicle moved ahead and blocked the road, leaving Rath with little room to escape.
By Thursday afternoon, investigators had started focusing on the possibility that the attackers had conducted surveillance for several days before the shooting.
Shooters Left Behind A Trail Of Planning
The operation has surprised even officers familiar with Bengal’s long history of political violence.
Police teams recovered fired cartridges and live rounds from the scene within hours of the attack. Investigators later seized a four-wheeler suspected to have supported the attackers, but officers quickly discovered that someone had fitted the vehicle with a fake number plate.
Forensic teams are now examining whether the shooters used Glock-series pistols during the attack. Officers involved in the investigation say criminals rarely use such sophisticated weapons in routine cases across Bengal.
One officer connected to the probe said the shooters appeared to fire with precision instead of spraying bullets randomly.
Investigators found that most bullets struck Rath directly while causing very little damage to the SUV itself. His driver, Buddhadeb Bera, suffered serious injuries because he sat close to Rath during the attack. Doctors are treating him at Apollo Hospital in Kolkata.
Witnesses near the scene described the shooting as swift and disciplined. One eyewitness recalled seeing a motorcycle stop beside the SUV moments before the gunman opened fire from close range.
“The shooter seemed like an expert,” the eyewitness said, adding that the attackers disappeared immediately after the firing.
Police suspect the assailants fired between six and ten rounds before escaping. Investigators are now examining CCTV footage from roads near the airport corridor and Madhyamgram frame by frame. Officers believe the attackers removed registration plates from their motorcycles and avoided helmets to make identification harder.
Rath Operated At The Centre Of Adhikari’s Political Machinery
Within the BJP organisation, Rath carried influence far beyond the title of personal assistant.
The former Indian Air Force serviceman spent years handling campaign logistics, internal communication and organisational coordination for Suvendu Adhikari. Party insiders say Rath played an important role during the BJP’s high-stakes electoral battles in Nandigram and Bhabanipur.
Despite his proximity to Bengal’s political power struggles, Rath largely avoided the spotlight. BJP leaders often referred to him as “Mr Dependable” because of the trust Adhikari placed in him.
His killing has now intensified Bengal’s already volatile political atmosphere following the Assembly election results.
Political Fallout Intensifies
Suvendu Adhikari described the murder as a “fully planned” operation and claimed the attackers carried out reconnaissance before the ambush.
“A recce was done for two to three days,” he said after visiting the hospital.
BJP leaders linked the killing to Bengal’s recurring pattern of post-poll violence and alleged that Rath became a target because of his close political association with Adhikari.
Tensions escalated across North 24 Parganas as BJP workers blocked roads and staged protests demanding immediate arrests. Authorities deployed additional police personnel and central forces in sensitive areas after the killing.
The CID has now taken over the investigation.
Investigators no longer doubt that the attackers planned the operation carefully. They are now trying to answer a far more serious question: Who decided to send armed men into one of Bengal’s busiest corridors to eliminate a political aide at point-blank range?
