Chandranath Rath murder: 3 sharpshooters arrested in UP

Kolkata (IANS): The West Bengal Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested three sharpshooters from Uttar Pradesh in connection with the killing of Chandranath Rath. The trio will be produced before the Barasat District Court in North 24 Parganas on Monday.

Midnight Interrogations and Confidentiality

Authorities quietly transported the arrested trio to Kolkata on Sunday night, moving them directly to the state police headquarters at Bhabani Bhavan. Sources indicate that investigating officials interrogated the suspects throughout the night to establish the chain of events.

To ensure a smooth legal transition, the SIT has opted to keep the identities of the sharpshooters and the specific location of their arrest in Uttar Pradesh confidential until the court officially grants police custody. The public prosecutor plans to seek maximum custody during today’s hearing to further the investigation.

The Ambush: A Detailed Execution

The murder occurred on the night of May 6, just 48 hours after the landmark West Bengal Assembly election results saw the BJP secure 207 seats. Rath, the personal assistant to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, was returning home to Madhyamgram from a party event when the assailants struck.

The investigation has revealed a meticulously planned ambush:

• The Block: A four-wheeler intercepted Rath’s vehicle at a crossing, forcing it to a halt.
• The Strike: As the vehicle stopped, one of the two motorcycles that had been shadowing Rath pulled alongside. An assailant fired ten rounds at close range.
• The Aftermath: Rath died instantly, while his driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained critical injuries. Bera is currently recovering.

Detectives later confirmed that the perpetrators used fake number plates on both the four-wheeler and the motorcycles to evade detection.

Political Fallout

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has linked the assassination directly to the recent elections. He claimed that Rath was targeted because of his close association with the leader who defeated former CM Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes.

With the gunmen now in custody, the SIT aims to uncover the masterminds behind the plot, which investigators believe was hatched nearly two months before the execution.