Kolkata, May 7 West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Thursday reacted strongly to the killing of Chandranath Rath, Personal Assistant (PA) to the BJP leader and the outgoing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, suggesting that the murder may have been intended to send a "political message" ahead of the new government formation in the state.
In a shocking incident late on Wednesday night, Rath was shot dead while returning home from a party program in the Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas district.
According to reports, Rath suffered multiple bullet injuries to his head, chest and abdomen. He was immediately taken to Viva City Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Another person, identified as Buddhadeb Bera, who was travelling in the same vehicle with Rath during the attack, also sustained multiple gunshot injuries. He is currently undergoing treatment at Viva City Hospital and remains in critical condition.
Speaking on the incident, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said, "This is not a simple incident... From what has come out so far in the video footage, and what the police are saying and what is in the newspaper headlines, the vehicle was parked, first the windshield was broken with a hole made from a rod... this is not a simple case."
He further linked the timing of the attack to the upcoming political events in the state.
"Two days later, the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister, and all other leaders are coming to the state. Several Chief Ministers are also arriving in the state for such a big celebration. Before that event, this incident happened. Someone may be trying to send a political message or target the BJP. The politically aware people of Bengal will definitely understand this," he said.
Bhattacharya also stated that the probe into the incident is currently underway.
"The investigation is underway," he said, while adding, "The public has given its decision against violence, against fear."
Reacting to the killing, BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress was unable to accept electoral defeat.
"Trinamool Congress has become frustrated and is unable to accept this defeat. The goons associated with them are also not able to tolerate it. Before the results, someone had said that they would show what would happen after May 4. He was a PA of Suvendu Adhikari and was not even a politician. The aim of such attacks is to intimidate and target individuals," he said.
BJP MP Rahul Sinha also targeted the Trinamool Congress over the incident.
"This incident is believed by the people of Bengal to be linked with the Trinamool Congress. She (Mamata Banerjee) was removed from Bengal and then also lost in Bhabanipur. After that, she refused to give a resignation... A change of government is happening, and a new government is being formed. At that time, they carried out such actions," he alleged.
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