Two BJP workers, identified as Sagar Sonkar and Sahib Sonkar, have been named in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet filed in connection with the murder of Chandranath Rath, an aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The incident occurred on May 6, two days after the announcement of the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Rath was shot dead near Kolkata, though Adhikari, who assumed office as chief minister on May 9, was not present at the scene of the attack. The BJP leader has alleged that the killing was a pre-planned assassination. The CBI, which took over the investigation into Rath’s murder on May 12, has arrested 11 individuals in connection with the case. Among those detained are six alleged contract killers, Sonu Singh, Raj Singh, Golu Singh, Mayank Raj Mishra, Vickey Maurya, and Naveen Kumar Singh, as well as three suspected middlemen, Vinay Rai, Sanjay Rai, and Vikas Mishra. One suspect remains at large. According to the CBI, Sagar Sonkar, who had previously worked with Rath, played a central role in orchestrating the murder. He is alleged to have arranged and funded the killing by hiring shooters from Uttar Pradesh. Sagar Sonkar had worked for an MLA from a rival political party until 2020 before joining the BJP. Rath had been associated with Adhikari since 2018, handling political coordination and organisational tasks. After Adhikari became the leader of the opposition in West Bengal, Rath was appointed as his executive assistant. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) condemned the killing and expressed grief over the deaths of party workers in other violent incidents. The party alleged that “BJP-backed miscreants” were involved in post-poll unrest and called for a court-monitored CBI probe into Rath’s murder. Separately, former Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee faced protests and an alleged attack on her vehicle while visiting the family of a TMC worker, Birju Keot, who died in police custody. The incident occurred in North 24 Parganas on August 9. Protesters reportedly hurled stones, shoes, and mud at Banerjee’s vehicle, raising slogans against her. The TMC accused the BJP of inciting the attack and claimed that the police failed to provide adequate protection. Banerjee alleged that the attack was a targeted effort to harm her, stating that the police were complicit in allowing BJP supporters to attack her vehicle. TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee accused the BJP of orchestrating the attack, claiming that hundreds of BJP workers were present and that the police remained passive observers. He alleged that the attack was a premeditated attempt to assassinate Banerjee. Meanwhile, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya denied any involvement of his party in the incident, condemning the stone-pelting and asserting that the BJP does not support such actions. He accused the TMC of instigating the conflict with the public. The incident adds to the escalating tensions between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal, following the TMC’s defeat in the recent Assembly elections. The TMC has accused the BJP of using “goons” to target its leaders, while the BJP has criticized the TMC for fostering unrest. The political rivalry has intensified, with both parties blaming each other for the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. In another development, the CBI has also linked Sagar Sonkar to a broader network of political operatives, suggesting that the planning for Rath’s murder began as early as December 2025. The agency alleges that the date for the execution of the contract was repeatedly changed, indicating a prolonged period of preparation. The CBI has also noted that Sagar Sonkar had previously worked for an MLA from a rival party before joining the BJP, highlighting potential links between different political factions. The ongoing investigations into Rath’s murder and the attacks on Banerjee’s vehicle underscore the deepening political divide in West Bengal. As the CBI continues its probe, the state government faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of security and law enforcement. Both parties continue to accuse each other of inciting violence, with the situation likely to remain volatile in the coming weeks.
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