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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

External involvement in Chandranath’s murder

Political and Geopolitical forces behind the killing in West Bengal New Delhi: The 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections have not only signaled a new trajectory in Indian politics but have also stirred ripples in global geopolitics. The unprecedented victory of the BJP in the state brought to light events that reveal how the long-standing cycle of political power struggles and violence is now emerging in a new form. The most alarming manifestation of this shift came late Wednesday night with...

External involvement in Chandranath’s murder

Political and Geopolitical forces behind the killing in West Bengal New Delhi: The 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections have not only signaled a new trajectory in Indian politics but have also stirred ripples in global geopolitics. The unprecedented victory of the BJP in the state brought to light events that reveal how the long-standing cycle of political power struggles and violence is now emerging in a new form. The most alarming manifestation of this shift came late Wednesday night with the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal secretary to senior BJP leader Shuvendu Adhikari. Chandranath Rath, a veteran who served 15 years in the Indian Air Force, was closely working with his family friend and senior BJP leader, Shuvendu Adhikari. His killing is more than an isolated personal attack and it signals a disturbing new dimension of political violence. Historically, electoral violence in West Bengal has targeted the workers of losing parties. This time, however, even the leaders and workers of the winning side have fallen victim. The implications of this violence extend beyond the state's borders. Following the BJP's landslide victory in West Bengal, the activity of anti-India elements in neighboring countries has intensified. Bangladesh and Pakistan have expressed concern over the party's victory, while China and the United States are also closely monitoring its implications. This highlights that election results in border states now carry geopolitical significance far beyond local politics. For decades, West Bengal and Assam have been treated as strategic zones in broader geopolitical games, with external forces allegedly attempting to maintain unrest in these regions over the past seven decades, like Jammu-Kashmir. Investigations into Chandranath Rath's murder indicate a pre-meditated conspiracy. The assailants used advanced Glock 47X firearms, suggesting that the plot was not confined to local planning alone. The crime occurred just 60 kilometers from Basirhat, near the Bangladesh border, which strengthens the likelihood of external involvement. Violent History History shows that violence and muscle power have always been intertwined with West Bengal politics. From the "Khaddo Movement" of the 1960s to slogans like "Dam Dam Dawai," political action was often synonymous with coercion, intimidation and murder. During the Left Front era, strategies like "scientific rigging," booth capture, and leveraging local goons became commonplace. Later, the Trinamool Congress inherited these structures and kept them under its control. Today's events demonstrate that this system remains alive. Border Dynamics The complexity of border areas and communal dynamics further complicates the scenario. In constituencies along the West Bengal and Assam borders, Muslim candidates secured victories, while regions adjacent to West Bengal in Bangladesh are represented by members of Jamaat-e-Islami. Groups like Jamaat-e-Islami have long pursued anti-India agendas, and their influence can be seen in electoral outcomes across these areas. The BJP's recent victory, and the violence that ensued, draw attention to geopolitics. The President of the United States congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking an unprecedented acknowledgment of a state-level BJP win. In contrast, Pakistani and Bangladeshi media have reacted with alarm, while discussions in Bangladesh's parliament highlight concern for the Muslim communities in these regions. Local outbreaks of violence further underline that West Bengal is no longer merely a domestic political theatre, however, this is a hub of geopolitical activity, where external forces seek to keep unstable and chaotic. This cycle of political violence extends beyond individual acts. It has become a complex mix of administrative inefficiency, local political rivalry, and external interference. The immediate presence of DGP Siddh Nath Gupta and CRPF DG Gyanendra Pratap Singh at the crime scene underscores the gravity of the situation. Chandranath Rath's murder is not merely a personal tragedy but a broader political and societal security challenge. The events echo the 1970s when Naxalism emerged in West Bengal, eventually spreading across India's "Red Corridor." Rath's assassination makes it clear that politics in West Bengal is no longer limited to electoral competition or local governance. The incident lays bare the intertwined realities of political violence, international geopolitics, and social security concerns. If the current trends continue, West Bengal may evolve into a region sensitive not only to national politics but also to global strategic interests.

Forging a New Frontier with Chandrayaan-4

Updated: Jan 6, 2025

As India’s space ambitions soar, S. Somanath’s leadership at ISRO stands as a testament to the agency’s vision, expertise and unyielding determination.

Chandrayaan-4

In a quiet but momentous statement following the success of Chandrayaan-3 in August 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath had declared, “India is now on the Moon!” The words had echoed across the world as India became the first country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole, cementing its place in the annals of space exploration. Under Somanath’s leadership, ISRO had joined an exclusive club of space-faring nations—becoming the fourth after the U.S., Russia, and China to achieve a lunar surface touchdown.


Yet, as significant as this achievement was, it was merely a stepping stone to the more ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission. As the ISRO chief, Somanath now finds himself at the helm of a rapidly advancing space program, navigating the complexities of the next great frontier: returning lunar soil samples to Earth. This mission will not only mark a pivotal moment in India’s space aspirations but also showcase the sophistication of the technologies that ISRO is now mastering under Somanath’s guidance.


Sreedhara Somanath, with a background in aerospace engineering, is not only a visionary leader but also a seasoned engineer with a deep understanding of the intricacies of space exploration. Born in 1963, Somanath’s journey into the world of space began in 1985 when he joined the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. Over the years, he became a key figure in the development of India’s launch vehicles, particularly the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). As a director at VSSC, he earned recognition for his pivotal role in the integration of the PSLV, which would go on to become one of ISRO’s most successful and reliable rockets.


Somanath’s expertise lies in the system engineering of launch vehicles. He was integral to the development of the GSLV Mk-III rocket, a crucial piece of ISRO’s arsenal for heavier payloads, which played a central role in the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.


When Somanath took over as ISRO’s chairman in January 2022, following the tenure of Dr. K. Sivan, the agency was at the cusp of major advancements. As chairman, Somanath’s focus has been clear: to continue ISRO’s trajectory of scientific excellence while simultaneously fostering innovation in space technologies. His work on Chandrayaan-3 and the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission epitomizes his commitment to India’s expanding ambitions in space.


The Chandrayaan-4 mission is poised to push the boundaries of India’s space program even further. Building on the success of Chandrayaan-3, which soft-landed the Vikram lander on the Moon’s south pole in August 2023, ISRO now sets its sights on lunar sample return.


For Somanath, Chandrayaan-4 is the culmination of decades of scientific research, engineering prowess and strategic vision. The mission will require the successful execution of space docking experiments—a capability ISRO is developing with its SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment). In December 2024, ISRO launched the C60 mission, placing two satellites in orbit to demonstrate the technology of rendezvous and docking. This experiment, aimed at mastering orbital manoeuvres, is vital for Chandrayaan-4, as it will involve docking multiple modules in space before they return lunar soil to Earth.


The ability to dock and undock spacecraft is crucial for future space missions, particularly with India’s plans for a manned mission to the Moon and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035.


For Somanath and his team, this is the next frontier. With Chandrayaan-4, ISRO is striving to prove India’s capability to execute complex space operations, opening the door to future missions that could change humanity’s relationship with the Moon and beyond.


2025 promises to be a landmark year for ISRO, as it prepares to launch multiple missions, including the NVS-02 navigation satellite, and a series of GSLV and PSLV launches. These missions will not only demonstrate ISRO’s ongoing commitment to space exploration but also solidify its position as a leader in space technology. From the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 to the imminent Chandrayaan-4, ISRO’s trajectory under Somnath’s guidance is one of remarkable progress. But he remains focused on the horizon, as the true potential of India’s space program is only beginning to be realized.

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