Bengal CID probes Chandranath Rath murder; CCTV footage yields clues
Synopsis
Chandranath Rath, long-time personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in a meticulously planned ambush in Madhyamgram — fake number plates, a blocking vehicle, and a helmet-clad shooter. The Bengal CID has taken over, and CCTV footage has reportedly already yielded clues, raising the political temperature in West Bengal sharply.
Key Takeaways
Chandranath Rath , personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari , was shot dead at Doharia crossing, Madhyamgram on Wednesday night, 7 May 2025 .
A coordinated ambush used a blocking four-wheeler and a motorcycle , both carrying fake number plates .
Driver Buddhadeb Bera was left gravely injured; used cartridges and bullets were recovered from the scene.
West Bengal CID took over the investigation on Thursday morning and is analysing CCTV footage , which has reportedly yielded initial clues.
A three-member forensic team from Barasat Medical College and Hospital is conducting the autopsy.
Central forces have been deployed at the site; vehicular and pedestrian movement remains restricted.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police on Thursday, 7 May took over the investigation into the targeted killing of Chandranath Rath, the long-time personal assistant of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari. Rath was shot dead by a helmet-wearing, bike-borne assailant at Doharia crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas district, late on Wednesday night as he returned from a BJP programme.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to initial investigation findings, Rath's vehicle was being tailed by a motorcycle as he made his way home on Wednesday night. At Doharia crossing, a second four-wheeler moved into the path of Rath's vehicle, forcing it to a halt. The motorcycle then pulled alongside, and the assailant — wearing a helmet — opened fire at close range indiscriminately, killing Rath on the spot. The driver of Rath's vehicle, Buddhadeb Bera, was left gravely injured and profusely bleeding.
State Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta confirmed that the number plates on both the blocking four-wheeler and the motorcycle were fake. Used cartridges and bullets were recovered from the scene, though Gupta declined to share further ballistic details, citing the ongoing investigation.
CID Takes Charge; CCTV Footage Under Scrutiny
CID sleuths reached the assassination site and launched an on-ground investigation shortly after taking over the case on Thursday morning. Investigating officers are closely examining footage from CCTV cameras installed in the area, including those fitted outside nearby housing complexes. Suvendu Adhikari stated that, as communicated to him by the police, investigators have already secured some clues from the CCTV footage.
The site of the killing has been cordoned off by CID personnel. Central forces have also been deployed in the area. Vehicular movement has been suspended at the crossing, and restrictions on the movement of people are in force.
Forensic Teams Mobilised
A three-member forensic team from the state-run Barasat Medical College and Hospital has been tasked with conducting the autopsy of Rath's body. The team is headed by the head of the forensic department of the medical college, assisted by two assistant professors from the same department, according to sources aware of the development.
Separately, a forensic team from the state police had already reached the site before the CID takeover, collecting specimens from Rath's vehicle and the surrounding area. Rath's car was removed from the spot after the state police forensic team completed its work.
Political Significance of the Killing
Chandranath Rath's long association with Suvendu Adhikari — one of the most prominent BJP leaders in West Bengal and the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly — lends the killing a sharp political dimension. The use of coordinated vehicles, fake number plates, and a planned interception suggests a premeditated, organised hit rather than a random crime. This is the latest in a series of political violence incidents in West Bengal that have drawn national attention.
As the CID deepens its probe and forensic analysis of CCTV footage advances, investigators are expected to zero in on the identity and motive of the assailants in the coming days.
Point of View
A trailing motorcycle, fake plates, and a shooter in a helmet — points to a level of planning that goes well beyond opportunistic political violence. West Bengal has a long and troubled history of targeted killings around political affiliations, and this incident arrives at a moment of heightened BJP-TMC tensions. The CID takeover, while procedurally standard in high-profile cases, will be watched closely: in a state where the ruling party and the investigative machinery are under the same government, the credibility of the probe will hinge on whether the CCTV leads are followed without political interference. The deployment of Central forces signals that the Centre is keeping a close eye.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chandranath Rath and why was he targeted?
Chandranath Rath was the long-time personal assistant of senior BJP leader and West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The motive behind his killing has not been officially established; investigators are analysing CCTV footage and forensic evidence to determine the reason.
How was Chandranath Rath killed?
Rath was shot dead at Doharia crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, on Wednesday night. A four-wheeler blocked his vehicle while a helmet-wearing assailant on a motorcycle pulled alongside and fired indiscriminately at close range, killing him on the spot.
Which agency is investigating the Chandranath Rath murder?
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police took over the probe on Thursday morning, 7 May. CID sleuths are on the ground and are examining CCTV footage from the area, which has reportedly already yielded some clues.
What evidence has been recovered so far?
Used cartridges and bullets have been recovered from the scene. The number plates on both the blocking four-wheeler and the motorcycle were confirmed to be fake. Forensic teams have collected specimens from Rath's vehicle and the surrounding area.
What is the current situation at the crime scene?
The area around Doharia crossing has been cordoned off by the CID. Central forces are deployed at the site, vehicular movement has been suspended, and restrictions on the movement of people are in place as the investigation continues.
