A high-profile murder in West Bengal has triggered an intense multi-agency probe, with investigators scanning CCTV footage for crucial leads after Chandranath Rath, a close aide to Suvendu Adhikari, was gunned down in Madhyamgram. The brazen attack, believed to be premeditated, has heightened political tensions, even as CID and state police teams move swiftly to identify and track the assailants.
The investigation gathered momentum on Thursday morning as officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), along with senior state police officers, reached the crime scene. A joint task force has been constituted to coordinate efforts, focusing heavily on analysing CCTV footage collected from the surrounding areas. According to sources, multiple surveillance clips are being examined to trace the movements of the attackers before and after the shooting.
Security has been significantly tightened across the area. The stretch from Rath’s residential housing complex near Doharia to Jessore Road has been sealed off, with police and central forces deployed in large numbers. Vehicular movement has been halted, and public access remains restricted as forensic teams continue their examination.
CCTV Footage Key as CID Steps In After Aide to Suvendu Adhikari Shot Dead
Meanwhile, Barasat Medical College has formed a three-member panel to conduct the post-mortem. The team includes a department head and two assistant professors, underscoring the sensitivity of the case. Rath’s body was transferred there early Thursday morning from a private nursing home, and the autopsy is expected to be conducted with priority once formalities are completed.
Rath, originally from Chandipur in East Midnapore, had been residing near the location where he was shot. The attack took place late Wednesday night when assailants opened fire on his vehicle near his residence. Another individual present in the car was also injured and has been shifted to a Kolkata hospital for advanced treatment.
Forensic experts who visited the spot on Wednesday night collected samples from the vehicle, where bloodstains were found on both the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The car has since been moved for further examination. Investigators have also recovered spent cartridges and bullets from the scene.
State police officials confirmed that a four-wheeler allegedly used in the crime has been seized. The number plate suggests it belongs to Siliguri, but authorities suspect it to be fake. Director General of Police Siddhanath Gupta stated that the probe is underway but refrained from disclosing further details, citing investigative sensitivity.
The incident sparked protests outside the hospital, with BJP workers demanding immediate arrests and strict punishment for those responsible. Senior BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, visited the hospital late at night.
Adhikari alleged that the killing was a result of a planned operation carried out after days of reconnaissance. While he hinted at a possible political angle, he avoided making direct accusations, stating that the party is placing its trust in the investigation. He also assured full support to the victim’s family and the injured.
As tensions simmer, all eyes remain on the investigation, with CCTV evidence likely to play a decisive role in unravelling the sequence of events behind the targeted killing.
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