While BJP’s West Bengal leadership blamed Trinamool Congress for the “cold-blooded murder”, Mamata Banerjee-led party dismissed the allegations and accused BJP of attempting to politicise the incident before the investigation could progress. Trinamool also demanded a CBI probe into the incident. Condemning the murder in “strongest terms”, CPI(M) called for a detailed investigation.
The incident took place at Doharia in Madhyamgram, a few hundred metres away from Rath’s residence. He was shot dead by bike-borne assailants at point blank range. Madhyamgram is in North 24 Paraganas district.
The driver of Rath’s vehicle was seriously injured with bullet injuries and shifted to a private hospital in Kolkata, where he underwent surgery. His condition is critical and he is on ventilator support. There was another person in the vehicle who was also injured. Another vehicle was coming to Madhyamgram, which was following Rath’s vehicle and belonged to some BJP workers.
The driver of the second vehicle, which was following Rath’s vehicle, told mediapersons, “The two vehicles were coming together. Chandra’s vehicle was travelling at full speed and overtook me. When it entered Doharia and I was only a few metres away, I saw a motorbike passing by my car and then saw him firing bullets indiscriminately. I did not have the strength to look at the incident after two rounds were fired.”
The vehicle blocked the path of Rath’s vehicle and then bullets were fired at point blank range.
Driver Buddhadeb Bera drove the car to the hospital although he was seriously injured and was bleeding.A four-wheeler has been seized with a tampered number plate from the spot, Bengal DGP Siddh Nath Gupta had said on Wednesday night. The motorcycle’s number plate was also tampered and a Siliguri plate was used.
The incident happened at around 10.15-10.30 pm, when Rath was returning home after a day’s work.
After reaching Barasat Medical Hospital on Thursday, where a post-mortem was conducted, Adhikari said, “It is a cold-blooded murder… I spoke to DGP, CID and forensic team and the investigation is being done. Some people have been detained. The truth will come out.” State BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya also visited the medical college during the post-mortem.
“The timing of the incident is crucial as it is just ahead of the swearing-in ceremony where many high-profile public figures, including the PM, Union home minister and chief ministers of 20 states will be coming to West Bengal for the oath-taking ceremony on May 9,” Bhattacharya said.
HOWRAH, Panihati TENSE
Howrah’s Shibpur turned into a flashpoint of political violence on Thursday as BJP and Trinamool supporters engaged in violent face-offs. Tension broke out in Shibpur slum area after several country-made bombs exploded leading to several injuries. A large number of security personnel were deployed to control the situation.
In North 24 Parganas’ Panihati, 5 BJP supporters were injured in a bomb blast. A heavy police deployment has been made in the area. The injured were admitted to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, police said.
