On Thursday, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police assumed charge of the investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, a long-time aide and personal assistant of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, shot dead in North 24 Parganas district.
Investigators believe Rath was being secretly tracked while returning home from a BJP event on Wednesday night.
According to preliminary findings, a motorcycle carrying the suspected attacker followed Rath’s vehicle before the assault took place near Doharia crossing in Madhyamgram.
Police sources said a four-wheeler suddenly intercepted Rath’s vehicle at the crossing, forcing it to halt. Soon afterwards, a helmeted gunman on the motorcycle allegedly came close to the car and opened fire from short range.
Rath died in the attack, while the vehicle’s driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained serious bullet injuries and left bleeding heavily. He is currently undergoing treatment.
West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta had earlier confirmed that the number plates on both the motorcycle and the four-wheeler involved in the crime were fake.
Police also recovered spent cartridges and live bullets from the scene. Gupta, however, declined to reveal additional details, citing the ongoing investigation.
CID officers reached the spot on Thursday morning and began collecting evidence. Investigators are examining CCTV recordings from nearby roads and residential complexes in an effort to identify those involved in the attack.
According to Adhikari, police officials informed him that investigators had already obtained certain leads from CCTV footage.
CID personnel sealed off the entire area where the shooting took place. Security forces also tightened security by deploying central forces. Police stopped vehicular movement in the locality and imposed restrictions on public movement.
Rath’s post-mortem examination will likely take place at the state-run Barasat Medical College and Hospital. A three-member forensic panel will conduct the examination.
Sources said the team would be led by the head of the institution’s forensic department and assisted by two faculty members.
Earlier, forensic experts from the state police visited the crime scene and collected samples from Rath’s vehicle and surrounding areas. The vehicle was later removed after the examination process was completed.
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