The West Bengal Police achieved a major breakthrough on Monday by arresting three suspects in the murder of Chandranath Rath, a close aide to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Specialized teams detained Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya from Buxar, Bihar, while a third suspect, Raj Singh, was caught in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. Investigators believe the trio were out-of-state hitmen hired to carry out the targeted killing in the Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas on May 6.
Digital Trail Leads to Arrest
According to the police, the breakthrough came after the perpetrators made a series of technical errors. While fleeing the crime scene, the suspects’ vehicle passed through the Bally toll plaza. In a critical oversight, the occupants paid the toll using UPI. This transaction allowed investigators to trace a mobile number directly linked to one of the suspects.
High-definition CCTV footage from the toll plaza further confirmed the identities of the occupants and the vehicle. Investigators also discovered that the silver hatchback used to block Rath’s SUV was a “clone” using a fake number plate replicated from a legitimate car listed on an online sales portal.
Sophisticated Weaponry Raises Alarms
The investigation has taken a serious turn following the identification of the murder weapon. Police confirmed the use of an Austrian-made Glock 47X pistol, a highly sophisticated firearm. The presence of such a weapon has triggered concerns among both state and central intelligence agencies regarding the sophistication of the criminal network involved.
Focus Shifts to Local Masterminds
While the suspected shooters are now in custody, the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is shifting its focus toward the “local planners.” Teams remain stationed in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to uncover the link between the arrested hitmen and the mastermind who commissioned the attack.
The motive behind the high-profile murder remains under investigation.
