BJP Aide Chandranath Rath Murder

Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, on Wednesday night. India — West Bengal have launched a comprehensive investigation, examining CCTV footage and forming multiple teams to trace the assailants. Preliminary findings suggest the murder was pre-planned, with assailants using sophisticated firearms, possibly Glock 47X pistols. Police are probing whether contract killers were involved. Buddhadeb Bera, who was driving Rath's car, also sustained bullet injuries and is in critical condition. A suspicious vehicle with a fake number plate and erased identification numbers, believed to have blocked Rath's car, has been seized. The United Kingdom — Criminal Investigation Department, India — Kolkata Police, and India — Bidhannagar City Police are assisting in the probe. DGP Siddhinath Gupta and CRPF Director General Jitendra Singh (politician) visited the crime scene. The motive behind the attack is currently unclear.