Kolkata, 15 May (H.S.) : The investigation into the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has revealed crucial details about the conspiracy behind the killing. Preliminary findings by the Central Bureau of Investigation indicate that the four-wheeler used in the crime was brought from neighbouring Jharkhand and fitted with a fake registration plate after entering West Bengal.

According to sources, one of the three arrested accused, Mayank Raj Mishra, confessed during interrogation that he had been assigned by a Jharkhand-based individual to transport the vehicle from Jharkhand to Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. Barasat is located close to Madhyamgram crossing, where Rath was shot dead earlier this month.

Investigators said Mishra admitted that after driving the vehicle to Barasat, he reached an abandoned spot near the Barasat rail gate and replaced the original number plate with a fake one. The original registration number was reportedly linked to a vehicle registered with the Regional Transport Office in Siliguri, Darjeeling district.

Sources further claimed that Mishra was paid Rs 1 lakh for delivering the vehicle. After handing over the car in Barasat, he allegedly travelled to Howrah station, boarded a train to Buxar, and was later arrested there.

Rath was murdered on the night of May 6, two days after the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections were announced. The Bharatiya Janata Party had secured victory in 207 Assembly constituencies, while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80 seats.

According to the investigation, Rath was returning home from a party programme when his vehicle was intercepted at a crossing in Madhyamgram by the four-wheeler brought from Jharkhand. At the same time, one of the two motorcycles that had allegedly been tailing Rath’s vehicle for some time stopped alongside it. The assailant riding the motorcycle then fired around 10 rounds at close range.

Rath died on the spot, while his driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained critical injuries. Officials said his condition is now improving.

Reacting to the incident earlier, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had alleged that Rath was targeted because he was closely associated with him. Adhikari had also claimed that his political rivalry with former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whom he defeated from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency by over 15,000 votes, was linked to the motive behind the attack.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh