In a crucial development in the Chandranath Rath shooting case, doctors have successfully removed a bullet from the body of his driver, Buddhadeb Bera, who remains in critical condition under close medical supervision. The surgery, conducted at a hospital along Kolkata’s EM Bypass on Thursday morning, offers a slim but significant hope in an otherwise grim case that has shaken the state.
Bera was behind the wheel when unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire at Rath’s vehicle late Wednesday night in the Doharia area of Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas. Both Rath and his driver sustained severe gunshot injuries during the attack. While Rath was declared dead shortly after being taken to a nearby hospital, Bera was shifted in a critical state to a Kolkata facility for advanced treatment.
Hospital sources confirmed that the emergency surgery to extract the bullet was completed successfully, though Bera’s condition remains serious. He is currently being monitored in intensive care, with doctors closely tracking his response post-operation.
Meanwhile, Rath’s body was moved to the morgue at Barasat Medical College on Wednesday night, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted. Security has been significantly tightened around the hospital premises, with both state police and central forces deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.
The crime scene in Madhyamgram continues to remain under strict police watch. Entry has been restricted as forensic teams comb through evidence collected from the vehicle and surrounding area. Investigators found bloodstains on both the driver’s and passenger’s seats, indicating the intensity of the attack.
Forensic experts have examined multiple parts of the vehicle, collecting samples that could provide vital leads in the investigation. The car has since been moved to another location for further analysis.
As the probe intensifies, authorities are working to piece together the sequence of events leading to the targeted shooting, while all eyes remain on the condition of the lone surviving witness—whose testimony could prove crucial in cracking the case.
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