Chandranath Rath murder: 3 sharpshooters to face Barasat court today
Synopsis
Three sharpshooters nabbed in Uttar Pradesh for the contract killing of Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath are set to face a West Bengal court Monday — a case that has fused organised crime with post-election political violence just days after BJP's sweeping win in the state.
Key Takeaways
Three sharpshooters arrested in Uttar Pradesh will be produced before the district court in Barasat on 11 May .
Chandranath Rath , personal assistant to Suvendu Adhikari , was shot dead on 6 May — two days after West Bengal election results.
An assailant fired ten rounds at close range; Rath's driver Buddhadeb Bera was critically injured but is recovering.
Number plates on the vehicles used in the killing were fake , pointing to a premeditated operation.
The SIT interrogated the three accused overnight at Bhabani Bhavan and will seek police custody in court.
BJP won 207 seats in the West Bengal elections; TMC was reduced to 80 seats .
Three sharpshooters arrested in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the assassination of Chandranath Rath — personal assistant to West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari — will be produced before a district court in Barasat, North 24 Parganas, on Monday, 11 May. The arrests were made by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the West Bengal Police, which is probing the politically sensitive killing.
Key Developments in the Case
The three accused were reportedly brought to Kolkata on Sunday night and taken to the state police headquarters at Bhabani Bhavan in South Kolkata, where investigating officials interrogated them through the night. The public prosecutor is expected to seek their police custody when they are produced in court later in the day.
Investigating officials have chosen to keep the identities of the three sharpshooters confidential until their court appearance. They have also not disclosed the exact location in Uttar Pradesh from where the trio was apprehended.
How the Assassination Unfolded
Rath was shot dead on the night of 6 May — just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared on 4 May. He was returning home to Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas from a party programme when his vehicle was blocked by a four-wheeler at a crossing.
According to initial investigation findings, two motorcycles had been shadowing Rath's vehicle for an extended period. As Rath's car came to a halt, one of the motorcycles pulled alongside and an assailant fired ten rounds at close range. Rath died on the spot. His driver, Buddhadeb Bera, sustained critical injuries but is reportedly recovering.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the number plates on the blocking four-wheeler as well as both motorcycles were fake, indicating a premeditated and organised operation.
Political Context
The murder occurred against a charged political backdrop. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had swept the West Bengal Assembly elections, winning 207 constituencies and reducing the erstwhile ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) to just 80 seats.
Adhikari claimed that Rath was targeted because he was the personal assistant of the man who defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Bhabanipur in South Kolkata by a margin of over 15,000 votes. The claim has added a sharp political dimension to what investigators are treating as a contract killing.
What Happens Next
With all three suspects now in custody and set to face the Barasat court, the SIT is expected to seek an extended remand period to establish the full chain of command behind the killing. The identities of those who allegedly hired the sharpshooters remain under investigation. Whether the probe uncovers a broader conspiracy will be closely watched by both political parties and the public in the state.
Point of View
Executed with fake number plates and multiple vehicles, just 48 hours after a historic election result, raises uncomfortable questions about who ordered it and whether the state machinery can investigate impartially when the victim is linked to the winning side. The SIT's decision to keep the suspects' identities under wraps until court appearance is procedurally defensible but will fuel speculation. The real measure of this investigation is not the arrest of trigger-men — it is whether the chain of command behind the killing is ever established and prosecuted.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Chandranath Rath and why was he killed?
Chandranath Rath was the personal assistant of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. He was shot dead on 6 May, two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results, in what investigators believe was a premeditated contract killing. Adhikari has alleged the murder was politically motivated.
Where were the three sharpshooters arrested?
The three sharpshooters were arrested in Uttar Pradesh by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the West Bengal Police. The exact location of their arrest has not been disclosed by investigating officials.
What happens when the accused are produced in Barasat court?
When produced before the district court in Barasat on 11 May, the public prosecutor is expected to seek police custody of the three accused, allowing the SIT to continue interrogating them to uncover the full conspiracy behind the killing.
How was the assassination carried out?
Rath's vehicle was blocked by a four-wheeler at a crossing in Madhyamgram. Two motorcycles had been trailing his car; an assailant on one of them fired ten rounds at close range, killing Rath on the spot. All vehicles used had fake number plates.
What is the political backdrop to this case?
The murder occurred just two days after the West Bengal Assembly election results, in which BJP won 207 seats and TMC was reduced to 80. Adhikari, Rath's employer, had defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes, adding a sharp political dimension to the case.
