Adhikari’s PA shot dead in WB; 1.5K held over post-poll violence

Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, late on Wednesday night — the most serious act of post-election violence in West Bengal since the BJP swept the assembly polls two days ago, winning 207 of 294 seats.

- Joydeep Thakur

“Chandranath Rath has been shot dead. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. Investigation is going on,” said a senior officer of the Barasat police district, who asked not to be named.

According to BJP leader Koustav Bagchi, motorcycle-borne assailants followed Rath’s vehicle before stopping it near Doharia in Madhyamgram and opening fire while Rath remained inside. Another person in the vehicle has been taken to a hospital with injuries.

Senior police officials and Adhikari were rushing to the spot, people aware of the matter said. Rath had played a central role in Adhikari’s election management in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur — Adhikari won both seats, defeating TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee at her home turf in Bhabanipur

The killing comes as Bengal has already been gripped with widespread post-poll violence since results were declared on Monday.