Kolkata: Three suspects have been detained from Bihar’s Buxar district in connection with the murder of Chandranath Rath, close aide and personal assistant of Suvendu Adhikari, as the investigation into the high-profile killing expanded across multiple states.
According to police officials, the suspects — identified as Vishal Srivastava from Bihar’s Buxar district and Mayank Mishra and Vicky Maurya from Uttar Pradesh — were detained by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder, reported HT. Investigators suspect that professional sharpshooters may have been hired to execute the attack.
Rath was shot dead on May 6 near his residence in Madhyamgram in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district while returning home in an SUV. Police said the attackers ambushed the vehicle in what investigators described as a meticulously planned operation that lasted less than a minute. The assailants allegedly used multiple vehicles, including motorcycles and a hatchback, to block Rath’s SUV before opening fire at close range.
Investigators believe at least seven to eight people may have been involved in the conspiracy. Technical surveillance, digital tracking and mobile phone records reportedly led the SIT to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Officials are also probing possible links extending to Jharkhand.
Police sources said the murder bore signs of a “professional hit”, with shooters allegedly using precision tactics and escaping quickly after the attack. Two vehicles believed to have been used in the crime were recovered earlier.
