A fake number plate was discovered on the motorcycle involved in the assassination of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant to the outgoing Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. Director General of Police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta confirmed this detail during his visit to Viva City Hospital in Madhyamgram, where Rath was pronounced dead after sustaining bullet injuries. Gupta mentioned the recovery of used and live cartridges at the crime scene but refrained from disclosing further specifics pending an ongoing investigation.
State police sources, based on eyewitness reports, initially believed that Rath’s car was being trailed by a four-wheeler before the attack. However, subsequent inquiries revealed that a motorcycle had discreetly followed Rath’s vehicle to the location of the incident. At Doharia crossing in Madhyamgram, a four-wheeler obstructed Rath’s path, allowing the motorcycle rider to open fire. The precision and planning of the attack indicated the involvement of skilled and organized assailants.
State BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya alleged that the assassination of Rath was a premeditated scheme orchestrated by the Trinamool Congress leadership. Bhattacharya accused the party of resorting to violence following their electoral loss, linking the incident to a broader pattern of unrest in the state. He emphasized the need for maintaining peace during the transition period between elections and the formation of a new government, holding the Election Commission responsible for ensuring law and order.
