Kolkata, May 7: West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta on Thursday confirmed that a fake number plate was used on the motorcycle involved in the assassination of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to outgoing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.
Gupta reached the Viva City Hospital at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district around 1.30 a.m., where Rath was declared dead after being brought in with bullet injuries late on Wednesday night.
Speaking to reporters, the DGP said investigators had recovered used cartridge shells and several live cartridges from the crime scene. He added that the motorcycle used in the attack carried a fake registration number, indicating a planned attempt to mislead investigators.
“A detailed investigation is underway. At this stage, I cannot disclose further details,” Gupta said.
According to police sources, initial eyewitness accounts suggested that Rath’s vehicle was being followed by a four-wheeler for some distance before the attack. As his car reached the Doharia crossing area in Madhyamgram, the vehicle allegedly overtook and blocked Rath’s path, after which gunmen opened fire.
However, investigators later discovered that a motorcycle had been silently shadowing Rath’s car throughout the journey. Police sources said the attackers used both a motorcycle and a four-wheeler in coordination during the operation.
As Rath’s vehicle stopped at the crossing, the four-wheeler blocked the road while the motorcycle rider allegedly fired multiple rounds at close range. Investigators believe the precision and execution of the attack point towards the involvement of professional and well-trained assailants.
Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of being behind the killing. He alleged that the murder was politically motivated and aimed at intimidating opposition leaders following the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.
Bhattacharya claimed that violence had already begun in different parts of the state after the election results and alleged that ruling party-backed miscreants were targeting BJP workers and leaders.
