Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and a former Indian Air Force officer, was shot dead in a targeted attack in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district
KOLKATA: Chandranath Rath, the close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who was shot dead in a brazen attack in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, had served nearly two decades in the Indian Air Force before becoming Suvendu’s most trusted political associates. Rath, 41, hailed from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, the political stronghold closely associated with Adhikari’s rise in West Bengal politics. Read more: 4 bikes, 8 gunmen and a blocked Scorpio: How Suvendu Adhikari’s aide was chased down and ambushed near Kolkata airport The vehicle of Chandranath Rath with bullet injury. He later joined the Indian Air Force, where he served for close to 20 years before taking voluntary retirement. His mother, Hasi Rath, had reportedly held a post in a local panchayat body during the TMC’s early years before shifting allegiance to the BJP alongside Adhikari in 2020. The killing, which came less than 48 hours after the declaration of the West Bengal assembly poll results, triggered massive political outrage and fresh allegations of post-poll violence.
Family acquaintances said he had once even considered embracing a spiritual life. Read more: Fake number plate, Glock 47X pistols, and point-blank shots: Chilling details emerge in Suvendu Adhikari aide’s killing Sources close to the family said to news agency PTI, the Raths, like Adhikari’s family, were earlier associated with the All India Trinamool Congress during its expansion in Purba Medinipur. The connection between the Rath family and Adhikari is said to go back more than two decades. Eyewitnesses described the attack as “pre-planned”, claiming the shooters appeared highly trained and fled immediately after opening fire.
Despite being part of Adhikari’s inner circle for years, he remained soft-spoken and largely away from public attention. Before entering politics, Rath studied at Rahara Ramakrishna Mission and was deeply influenced by the spiritual and disciplined ethos of the institution. After leaving the armed forces, Rath briefly worked in the corporate sector before gradually moving into political coordination and organisational management. Rath suffered bullet injuries to the chest and abdomen and was declared brought dead at a nearby private hospital. Bera, who was driving the vehicle, sustained serious injuries and remains under treatment.
Rath formally joined Adhikari’s official team around 2019, when the latter was still a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government. A damaged glass window of a vehicle after BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant Chandranath Rath was shot at from close range by unidentified assailants, according to sources, in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas. (PTI Photo) He was also part of the core team during several high-profile political battles, including the BJP’s Bhabanipur campaign. Rath was returning to his Madhyamgram residence with aide Buddhadeb Bera when motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly intercepted their SUV near Doharia around 10.30 pm and opened fire at point-blank range, according to investigators. Poll Earlier reporting noted: Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in a late-night attack in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district near Doharia, an area close to Kolkata airport, triggering a major political and law-and-order controversy across the state. Earlier reporting noted: Investigators said Chandranath Rath was travelling back to his Madhyamgram residence with aide Buddhadeb Bera when attackers intercepted their SUV around 10.30 pm, allegedly using motorcycle-borne shooters and another blocking vehicle to execute a coordinated ambush.
Police sources said multiple rounds were fired after another vehicle blocked Rath’s SUV on a deserted stretch near Jessore Road, barely three kilometres from Kolkata airport. West Bengal Police said CCTV footage from nearby areas was being examined, while multiple teams were conducting raids to identify the attackers. Investigators have also recovered live rounds, fired cartridges and seized a suspicious vehicle allegedly used during the operation, though officials said its number plate appeared to be fake or tampered with. Describing the killing as a “cold-blooded and pre-planned murder”, Adhikari alleged that the attackers had carried out reconnaissance before the ambush.
Initially, he handled administrative responsibilities linked to Adhikari’s ministerial office and later continued in a similar role after the BJP leader switched camps. Over the years, Rath emerged as a crucial backroom operator in Adhikari’s political machinery. He coordinated organisational work, handled logistics and maintained communication with party workers and legislators. BJP insiders described him as someone who enjoyed Adhikari’s complete trust and was often assigned sensitive political and campaign-related responsibilities. Within sections of the BJP, there had even been speculation that Rath could be given a larger administrative role if Adhikari assumed a bigger position in government following the assembly elections.
Earlier reporting noted: He was closely linked to Suvendu Adhikari’s political journey and gradually became a trusted backroom operator, handling administrative duties, organisational coordination, logistics, and communication with party workers and legislators, often staying away from public visibility. Those discussions came to an abrupt end on Wednesday night. Additional police forces were deployed across Madhyamgram, Doharia and adjoining areas on Thursday after BJP supporters staged protests demanding immediate arrests.
Vote & Share your view
The TMC condemned the incident and demanded a court-monitored CBI probe, even as political tensions continued to escalate across Bengal following the bitterly fought assembly elections. (With agency inputs) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news.
Challenges in maintaining law and order 3k+ users shared opinion today 5k+ users already voted today 3k+ users shared opinion today Share Opinion “This is the result of 15 years of Mahajungle Raj in Bengal,” he alleged, while urging BJP workers not to take the law into their own hands. Which factor do you think contributes more to political tensions? Inter-party rivalry and conflict. Download the TOI App.