Planned Attack: Killers Knew Seating Position Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide, Say Police
Police say attackers knew exact seating position of Suvendu Adhikari’s aide before shooting.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the killing of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, has found that the attackers appeared to have prior knowledge of the victim’s exact seating position inside his car during the fatal shooting, police sources said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Wednesday night while Rath was returning home.
According to investigators, the precision of the attack suggests that the assailants were aware of the vehicle layout and targeted him within seconds. Officials said the shooting, carried out on a busy road in Madhyamgram, lasted only around 45 to 50 seconds, indicating a highly coordinated operation.
Police have detained three individuals for questioning in connection with the murder, though no arrests have been formally made so far. Authorities believe that the operation involved multiple individuals, including local collaborators who allegedly provided logistical support to the attackers.
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Preliminary findings suggest that bike-borne gunmen carried out the attack after blocking Rath’s vehicle using a silver-coloured car near the Doharia crossing. Investigators also suspect the involvement of a red getaway vehicle and at least one motorcycle used to escape from the scene. CCTV footage from the area is being analysed to trace the movement of all suspected vehicles.
A senior SIT officer said early evidence points to the attackers acting in a “professionally coordinated” manner, with indications that they may have been brought in from outside West Bengal. Police teams have been sent to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as part of efforts to trace suspected shooters and establish inter-state links.
Investigators have also recovered two motorcycles, one near the crime scene and another near Barasat, which are believed to have been used in the operation. Officials said preliminary assessments suggest the vehicles involved may have been stolen, while further forensic and technical analysis is underway to determine the full chain of events behind the targeted killing.
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