Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on Wednesday night in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the Madhyamgram area when Rath was returning by car from Doharia. Eyewitnesses said a group of assailants on motorcycles stopped his vehicle and fired multiple shots at close range, hitting him in the chest.

Rath was rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared him dead. The car’s driver was also shot and later transferred to another private hospital in Madhyamgram due to his critical condition. According to available information, Rath had previously served in the Indian Air Force and, after retirement, became a close aide to Suvendu Adhikari. He had recently been active in election campaigning.

Authorities have not released further details about the attackers or the motive behind the shooting.