Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead late Wednesday near Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, in a targeted attack police describe as meticulously planned. Eight armed men on four motorcycles, accompanied by a silver Nissan that blocked his SUV on Jessore Road, opened fire at close range, killing Rath and critically injuring his driver, Buddhadeb Bera.

Rath, who had served Adhikari for nearly five years, sustained bullet wounds to the chest and abdomen and was declared dead at a nearby hospital. Investigators recovered six to ten shell casings from the scene and are examining whether Glock 47X pistols — sophisticated weapons not commonly used in street crimes — were used in the attack. Police said the assailants wore helmets and rode unlicensed motorcycles to evade detection.

Rath's mother, Hasirani Rath, alleged political vendetta, claiming her family faced threats after Adhikari defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram. Suvendu Adhikari called the killing pre-planned, saying reconnaissance had been conducted days prior. BJP leaders, including MP Khagen Murmu and spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, accused the Trinamool Congress of inciting post-poll violence, citing the killing of another BJP worker, Rohit Roy, in separate attacks.

West Bengal police have launched a manhunt and are analyzing CCTV footage from the Jessore Road corridor. The state’s home department has directed swift investigation and submission of a preliminary report within 48 hours. The court is expected to hear an update on the case Friday morning.