Kolkata: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the assassination of Chandranath Rath, a prominent aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. On Monday, police confirmed the arrest of three individuals from Uttar Pradesh who are believed to be directly connected to the targeted killing. The murder took place in Madhyamgram, located in the North 24 Parganas district, on the night of May 6, just days before the formal inauguration of the state’s new administration.
Investigators successfully traced the suspects by following a trail of digital clues and identifying complex interstate links that spanned across West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Among those apprehended is Vishal Srivastava, a resident of Pandiyapatti in Bihar’s Buxar district. The other two suspects are from Uttar Pradesh, and senior police officials suspect that at least one of them served as a professional sharpshooter during the execution of the crime. This discovery supports the initial theory that the assailants were hired from outside the province to carry out the high-profile hit.
The SIT was established specifically to probe the circumstances surrounding Rath’s death, which occurred as he was returning to his residence from Kolkata. Technical surveillance and digital tracking played a pivotal role in locating the suspects, leading to a coordinated operation across state lines. A senior officer told PTI that the investigation indicates the presence of a much larger conspiracy, involving at least eight individuals who were responsible for both the planning and execution of the murder.
Prior to the attack, the assailants reportedly conducted a detailed reconnaissance of the area to monitor Rath’s movements and identify the most vulnerable point for an ambush. The vehicle Rath was travelling in was intercepted near Doharia on Jessore Road, where multiple rounds were fired at close range. While three key suspects are now in custody, the police are continuing their search for the remaining conspirators to fully dismantle the network behind the violence that has marred the recent political transition in West Bengal.
