West Bengal Chandranath Rath Murder: Two sharp shooters flown in from Bihar carried out the contract killing of Chandranath Rath, private secretary to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, after receiving Rs 40 lakh for the murder, according to police investigations. The pre-planned assassination took place on Wednesday around 10 PM near Madhyamgram Choumatha on Jessore Road in West Bengal, five days after state election results were declared.
Police believe the murder was executed through a carefully planned conspiracy after extensive reconnaissance. Investigators suspect the killers monitored Chandranath Rath’s movements for several days before the attack. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) thinks a close associate may have leaked information about the victim’s daily routine to the perpetrators. [source]
Bihar Sharp Shooters Brought for Hit Job
Police sources confirm two sharp shooters were specifically brought from Bihar to carry out the shooting. A local criminal arranged vehicles and accommodation for the shooters’ arrival and stay in West Bengal. Investigators estimate the contract money ranged between Rs 30 to 40 lakh rupees. The shooters may have fled via Kolkata Airport on flights using fake identity documents.
The killing occurred when Chandranath was returning from Madhyamgram Choumatha to Doikhya via Jessore Road in his car. Rain-water on the road forced his vehicle to slow down. Two bikes approached from behind, and the assailants fired multiple rounds at close range through the car window, killing him instantly within 45 seconds of stopping.
CCTV footage from near the crime scene shows a white Scorpio vehicle stopping briefly at approximately 10:08 PM. Within seconds, two helmeted men on a motorcycle sped toward Jessore Road. Exactly 45 seconds later, the shooting took place. The attackers approached extremely close to the car window before firing several rounds that proved fatal.
Five Days of Surveillance Before Attack
Investigators found evidence that the killers followed Chandranath’s car through Belgharia Expressway and Barasat areas shortly before the murder. CCTV footage from multiple locations over the past five days shows surveillance of the victim’s movements. The SIT believes someone in Chandranath’s close circle likely provided information about his daily schedule and routines.
Police are examining CCTV footage and phone records extensively. Several suspects have been identified through this evidence, including one woman who is being questioned along with others connected to them. Forensic experts and CID officials returned to the crime scene Thursday morning to collect blood samples and other physical evidence.
The motorcycle used in the assassination was recovered and traced to an old vehicle showroom in Bidhannagar where it was stolen. The vehicle’s engine and chassis numbers had been tampered with at a garage in Barasat. Another motorcycle used during the crime was found registered to Bipasha Datta from Siliguri.
When police visited the registered address in Islampur, they found an e-rickshaw driver living there since 2014 who claimed to know no one by that name. This suggests the identity documents were forged for the operation. Police continue investigating potential links between local criminals and the out-of-state shooters brought for the hit.
Suvendu Adhikari himself stated that the investigation is progressing in the right direction. The arrest of suspects and recovery of evidence shows investigators are closing in on those who orchestrated this targeted killing. The case has gained significant attention due to the victim’s political connections and the professional nature of the assassination.
The sophistication of the operation-including interstate coordination, surveillance, fake identities, and rapid escape planning-ndicates organized criminal involvement. Police are now focusing on uncovering who commissioned the murder and why Chandranath Rath was specifically targeted five days after election results.
