WEST BENGAL - Chandranath Rath, a personal assistant to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in North 24 Parganas district late Monday, escalating political tensions in West Bengal. Adhikari, a key opposition figure who has twice defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in elections, alleged the killing was politically motivated.

The incident marks the latest in a series of unnatural deaths involving Adhikari's aides over the past 13 years. Rath's killing has drawn sharp reactions from BJP leaders, who demanded an impartial probe and accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of targeting opposition figures. Trinamool leaders dismissed the allegations, accusing the BJP of exploiting the incident for political gain.

Police have initiated an investigation into the murder. The case has reignited scrutiny of past deaths linked to Adhikari's associates, including Pradip Jha (2013), Subhabrata Chakraborty (2018), and Pulak Lahiri (2021). While no investigative agency has established a direct link between these incidents, they have been frequently cited in West Bengal's political discourse.

Chakraborty, a State Armed Police constable assigned as Adhikari's personal security officer, was found dead in 2018. The case was initially ruled a suicide but was later reopened after his wife raised concerns. The West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reconstructed the scene and questioned police personnel involved in the original inquiry.

The BJP and Trinamool Congress have traded accusations over the handling of these cases, with each side alleging politicization. The state government has not commented on the latest demands for a central agency probe. The police investigation into Rath's killing is expected to continue in the coming days.