The investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, has intensified, with police uncovering fresh leads that point toward a meticulously planned contract killing carried out by highly trained shooters. A second motorcycle linked to the crime was recovered on Friday from near the Barasat No. 11 railway crossing, a day after another bike was found abandoned near Airport Gate No. 2.
Investigators revealed that a Nissan Micra allegedly used in the operation had remained parked in the same Barasat vicinity, barely four km from the crime spot, for several hours before the attack.
According to police sources, at least seven to eight individuals are suspected of having been involved. The attack itself lasted less than a minute, during which 6 to 10 rounds were fired with remarkable precision at point-blank range. Despite the close proximity, no usable fingerprints or substantial forensic evidence could be recovered from the victim's vehicle, raising suspicions about the involvement of professional “sharpshooters.”
“The level of execution suggests extreme professionalism,” a senior officer said, noting that the assailants demonstrated composure and accuracy under pressure—traits associated with trained operatives. Investigators believe Rath’s movements had been under systematic surveillance prior to the killing. Officials suspect that such detailed intelligence gathering would not have been possible without local collaborators assisting the attackers.
The murder, which unfolded on Wednesday night in Madhyamgram, bore striking similarities to scenes typically seen in crime thrillers. Rath’s vehicle was intercepted, and he was shot at close range before the attackers fled swiftly. In light of the gravity of the case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed, comprising officers from the Barasat Police District, CID, STF, and IB. Three individuals have already been detained for questioning. Police recovered a silver car used to block Rath’s vehicle, but its number plate was found to be fake, and the chassis number had been tampered with.
The registered owner, a resident of Siliguri, claimed the vehicle was parked in his garage at the time of the incident. Similarly, the motorcycles used in the crime had counterfeit number plates, with chassis and engine numbers deliberately erased. CCTV footage has provided crucial clues. One clip shows the suspect vehicle heading toward the Madhyamgram crossing around 10:06 pm, followed by two motorcycles.
Another captures two helmeted youths fleeing the scene at high speed around 10:29 pm. Rath’s family has also revealed that he had received death threats days before the incident, which had been reported to the police in East Medinipur. The Centre has sought a detailed report on the incident, expressing concern over the brazen killing. Senior state police officials, including Acting Director General Siddhinath Gupta, visited the hospital soon after the incident and confirmed the recovery of bullets and cartridges from the scene. \
Based on the escape route analysis, investigators suspect the assailants may have fled toward the Rajarhat-New Town area or possibly crossed into Bangladesh, taking advantage of reduced security checkpoints after the elections. Police are now preparing to reconstruct the crime scene as the probe continues to unravel what officials describe as a “highly premeditated and professionally executed assassination.”
"A police team also left for Uttar Pradesh as some leads indicate involvement of inter-state professional killers," said a police officer.
Follow us
