Suvendu Adhikari aide killing: Three arrested in joint operation in connection with Chandranath Rath's murder
PTC News Desk: Three people have been arrested in connection with murder of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant of West Bengal's new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The arrests were made in a joint operation by the West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar police after they intercepted a UPI payment made by the assailants at a toll booth in Bally near Kolkata.
According to the police, the three arrested are professional killers.
The investigation into the killng revealed that Rath's SUV was blocked by a silver-coloured Nissan Micra following which bike-borne assailants shot him and later abandoned the vehicled at a secluded location and used another car and a bike to flee.
Police have so far recovered two bikes and a car-Nissan Micra, which bears a fake number plate. The probe reveals that all the three vehicles used in the killing were stolen.
"The four-wheeler used in the crime has been seized, but it is being reported that the number plate is fake and has been tampered with," Bengal's DGP Siddh Nath Gupta had said after the shooting.
Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari has called the killing of Rath a "pre-planned" and "cold-blooded murder" which showcases the "15 years of Maha-Jungle Raj." He believes that the gunmen carried out a "recce for two to three days."
"He was killed because he was my aide and I defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. This could be the reason for his murder..." Adhikari told reporters Thursday after meeting Rath's family. "No matter how much we condemn how this murder was carried out, it is not enough. I stand with his family's demand... to apprehend those who committed this murder and ensure they are punished. The post-mortem revealed four bullets were fired... this was premeditated."
#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal: The mortal remains of Chandranath Rath, PA of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, were brought from the hospital in Madhyamgram to his residence.
He says, "No matter how much we condemn the way this murder was carried out, it is not enough. He… pic.twitter.com/rNusFawpG9 — ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2026
- With inputs from agencies
