Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy on Thursday described the killing of BJP MP-elect MLA from Suvendu Adhikari, Chandranath Rath, as “tragic”, while condemning the incident.
Speaking to ANI, Roy demanded “stronger” action against the perpetrators of the incident and demanded a CBI probe into the matter under court supervision.
“It is a very tragic incident. We strongly condemn the brutal murder of Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram. We demand that the strictest possible action be taken in relation to this matter – including a CBI investigation under court supervision – and those responsible for this crime be identified and arrested without delay. There is absolutely no place for such violence in a democratic state… We (TMC) have absolutely no connection with this incident whatsoever… This is part of the post-election violence,” the TMC MP said. He said.
Read also | Retarded car, then executed execution style: gruesome details in the killing of Suvendu Adhikari’s aide
Earlier in the day, West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya targeted the Trinamool Congress, alleging that “there is no longer rule of law in West Bengal” after the killing of Chandranath, Suvendu Adhikari’s personal aide, in Madhyamgram.
He said the incident could be a case of political vendetta, and claimed that the manner of the crime indicated a serious breakdown of law and order.
Chandra was shot on Wednesday and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital near Madhyamgram.
Speaking to ANI, Bhattacharya said: “Was this done to send a political message or is there some other motive behind it, or is it an act of political vendetta? The investigation is currently underway, and the truth will eventually come out. This is not an ordinary murder… They brought a car whose chassis numbers were completely changed, blocked his path, and then opened fire on him from a motorcycle.”
Bhattacharya also accused the Trinamool Congress of turning the state into a “jungle raj”.
Earlier, West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari termed the incident a “cold-blooded and pre-planned murder” and appealed to BJP workers to maintain peace while assuring that the culprits would be brought to justice.
“This is a pre-planned murder, that’s what the Director General of Police said. A reconnaissance was conducted for two-three days and the murder was completely planned,” Adhikari said.
An eyewitness to the incident told the news agency that the attacker arrived on a motorcycle and fired shots from a close range before fleeing.
The eyewitness said: “The person appears to be an expert and fled immediately. It appears that the matter was planned in advance.”
Meanwhile, the All India Trinamool Congress condemned the murder and demanded a court-supervised probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident.
