My aide was killed as I defeated Mamata Banerjee: Suvendu Adhikari's big charge
Suvendu Adhikari said his aide Chandranath Rath was killed over his association with him. He said the murder was premeditated, while the family sought swift punishment for those responsible.
Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has claimed his personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, was killed because of his association with him and linked the murder to his electoral victory over Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
Speaking outside Barasat State General Hospital after Rath's post-mortem on Thursday, Adhikari alleged that the former Indian Air Force personnel "might not have been killed" had he not served as his personal assistant or had Adhikari not defeated Banerjee politically.
"He was killed because he was my aide and I defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. This could be the reason for his murder," the BJP leader, who won both Bhabanipur and Nandigram in West Bengal Assembly elections, said.
"I stand with his family, and the family's demand is to apprehend those who committed this murder and ensure they are punished. The postmortem revealed that 4 bullets were fired at him... this murder was premeditated," he added.
He also claimed Rath had no personal or political rivalry.
Rath was shot dead on Wednesday night in Madhyamgram area near Kolkata. Before the body was taken to his native village Chandipur for the last rites, senior BJP leaders, including state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya, paid tributes to him.
Referring to the investigation, Adhikari said the state DGP informed him that a motorcycle allegedly used in the crime had been recovered around four kilometres from the spot. He said police had detained some suspects and expressed confidence that the assailants would soon be arrested.
"Police are working. I spoke with the DGP; they have leads, and some people have been rounded up. I am confident the police will be able to arrest the assailants. CID, forensic and SIT are in action, and police are heading in the right direction," Adhikari said.
Furthermore, Adhikari also took an apparent swipe at the ruling Trinamool Congress government, claiming police were capable of solving such cases earlier as well but "were not allowed" to do so. On the TMC's demand for a CBI probe into the killing, the BJP leader said there was "no relevance" of the party now and maintained that the state police would crack the case.
Rath's mother, however, appealed for life imprisonment instead of the death penalty, saying she understood the pain of losing a child. She is also associated with the BJP in Purba Medinipur.
West Bengal's post-poll unrest escalated sharply on Wednesday night after Rath, was shot dead in North 24 Parganas district in an incident the BJP termed a "targeted assassination". The killing sparked protests and renewed allegations of political violence in the state.
According to police, Rath was attacked near Doltala in Madhyamgram at around 10.30 pm when motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly chased his vehicle, forced it to halt and opened fire before escaping. Officials said that the attack took place barely 100 metres from Rath’s residential complex.
Buddhadeb Bera, who was driving Rath's car at the time of the attack, also suffered bullet injuries. A senior hospital official said he underwent multiple surgeries following the incident.
Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has claimed his personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, was killed because of his association with him and linked the murder to his electoral victory over Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
Speaking outside Barasat State General Hospital after Rath's post-mortem on Thursday, Adhikari alleged that the former Indian Air Force personnel "might not have been killed" had he not served as his personal assistant or had Adhikari not defeated Banerjee politically.
"He was killed because he was my aide and I defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. This could be the reason for his murder," the BJP leader, who won both Bhabanipur and Nandigram in West Bengal Assembly elections, said.
"I stand with his family, and the family's demand is to apprehend those who committed this murder and ensure they are punished. The postmortem revealed that 4 bullets were fired at him... this murder was premeditated," he added.
He also claimed Rath had no personal or political rivalry.
Rath was shot dead on Wednesday night in Madhyamgram area near Kolkata. Before the body was taken to his native village Chandipur for the last rites, senior BJP leaders, including state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya, paid tributes to him.
Referring to the investigation, Adhikari said the state DGP informed him that a motorcycle allegedly used in the crime had been recovered around four kilometres from the spot. He said police had detained some suspects and expressed confidence that the assailants would soon be arrested.
"Police are working. I spoke with the DGP; they have leads, and some people have been rounded up. I am confident the police will be able to arrest the assailants. CID, forensic and SIT are in action, and police are heading in the right direction," Adhikari said.
Furthermore, Adhikari also took an apparent swipe at the ruling Trinamool Congress government, claiming police were capable of solving such cases earlier as well but "were not allowed" to do so. On the TMC's demand for a CBI probe into the killing, the BJP leader said there was "no relevance" of the party now and maintained that the state police would crack the case.
Rath's mother, however, appealed for life imprisonment instead of the death penalty, saying she understood the pain of losing a child. She is also associated with the BJP in Purba Medinipur.
West Bengal's post-poll unrest escalated sharply on Wednesday night after Rath, was shot dead in North 24 Parganas district in an incident the BJP termed a "targeted assassination". The killing sparked protests and renewed allegations of political violence in the state.
According to police, Rath was attacked near Doltala in Madhyamgram at around 10.30 pm when motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly chased his vehicle, forced it to halt and opened fire before escaping. Officials said that the attack took place barely 100 metres from Rath’s residential complex.
Buddhadeb Bera, who was driving Rath's car at the time of the attack, also suffered bullet injuries. A senior hospital official said he underwent multiple surgeries following the incident.
