BJP winning candidate of Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituency Suvendu Adhikari arrives at BJP West Bengal office (Saikat Paul)
Adhikari reacts after aide’s killing
Speaking outside the hospital where Rath was taken after the attack, Adhikari described the incident as deeply disturbing. “The incident is heart-wrenching; we condemn the incident.”
He added that the Director General of Police Siddhnath Gupta had assured him that authorities would conduct a detailed probe into the murder. Calling the attack pre-planned, Adhikari alleged: “The way the attack was executed clearly suggests that the assailants had done a recce beforehand.”
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Details in the Chandranath Rath shooting case
The attack took place late Wednesday night, less than 48 hours after the West Bengal assembly election results were declared.
“The murder seems to have been committed by professionals. Chandranath Rath, who was sitting beside the driver, was the sole target. The shots were perfectly aimed. Not a single hit the SUV’s body or front windshield. A couple of bullets hit the driver as he was close to the target. The rest hit Rath’s vital organs” a police officer told HT requesting anonymity.
The killers opened fire from both sides of the white SUV. a Scorpio. Rath was hit in the right abdomen and left chest. The bullets pierced through the heart, doctors told the police.
BJP urges restraint despite allegations
“We don’t want to draw a conclusion as of now, as police are investigating the matter,” Adhikari said. He also appealed to BJP workers and supporters to remain calm amid rising tensions.
“We would appeal to everyone not to take the law into their own hands.”
Claims of post-poll violence
Adhikari further alleged that violence targeting BJP workers continued across different parts of the state following the election results.
“While we were here, one of our cadre was shot at in Basirhat, and another was stabbed in Baranagar area,” he said. The BJP leader also confirmed that he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the party’s national president Nitin Nabin regarding the incident.
