'They killed my aide because I defeated Mamata': Suvendu Adhikari
What's the story
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that his aide Chandranath Rath was murdered because he defeated Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur election. "He was killed because he was my aide and I defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. This could be the reason for his murder," Adhikari said after meeting Rath's family on Thursday.
Justice demand
Adhikari demands justice
Adhikari has called the killing a "cold-blooded murder," adding that it was "premeditated." "The postmortem revealed that 4 bullets were fired at him... this murder was premeditated," he added. He demanded those responsible for Rath's murder be brought to justice. He also said it was no ordinary murder, calling it a "planned attack carried out by contract killers."
Ongoing probe
Special investigation team formed to probe murder
A special investigative team has been formed to probe Rath's murder. Rath was shot dead on Wednesday night in Madhyamgram area near his home. His driver, Buddhadeb, was injured in the attack and was taken to a hospital after the attack. Visuals from the scene show bullet holes in the left front window of Rath's car. The bullets hit Rath in the chest, abdomen and head.
Violence accusation
Eyewitness accounts
According to eyewitnesses and preliminary police findings, eight armed men on four motorcycles allegedly began tailing Rath's Scorpio as soon as it crossed the airport area. Near Doharia, a small four-wheeler veered in front of the SUV, blocking its route and forcing it to come to a stop. A few moments later, four attackers on two bikes approached the automobile and began firing indiscriminately.
Violence blame
TMC blames BJP-backed miscreants for murder
The Trinamool Congress has denied any involvement in the killing. The party demanded a court-monitored probe into the incident, emphasizing that "violence and political killings have no place in a democracy. The guilty must be identified and punished." Adhikari had defeated Banerjee in the Bhabanipur stronghold by over 15,000 votes. He had also won Nandigram against her by 1,956 votes in the previous 2021 election.