Chandranath Rath, a close aide and personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead at from close range by unidentified assailants on the night of May 6 in Bengal's North 24 Parganas. Photo: PTI
UPI trail leads cops to Suvendu's aide's killers; 3 hitmen arrested
In a joint police operation across three states, police tracked down a digital toll payment that led them to the assassins of Chandranath Rath in UP and Bihar
In a dramatic turn of events, a simple digital transaction at a toll booth cracked the high-profile murder case of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant to West Bengal’s new Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari.
Three professional hitmen were apprehended in a massive inter-state manhunt across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar after police tracked a UPI payment made by the suspects while they were fleeing the crime scene.
The ambush and escape
The brutal killing occurred last Wednesday night between 10 pm and 10.10 pm. Rath was travelling in his Mahindra Scorpio and was less than 200 meters from his residence in Madhyamgram when a silver Nissan Micra blocked his path. Bike-borne assailants then opened fire at point-blank range, hitting Rath with four bullets.
In an attempt to mislead investigators, the killers abandoned the Micra, later found to have fake number plates, and switched to a red car and a motorcycle. However, their escape plan faltered at the Bally toll plaza near Kolkata.
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Despite using stolen vehicles, the suspects used a personal UPI account to pay the toll. This digital trail allowed the West Bengal Police, in coordination with authorities in UP and Bihar, to pinpoint the identities and locations of the suspects.
The four-wheeler used in the crime has been seized, but the investigation confirmed the plates were tampered with," stated Bengal DGP Siddh Nath Gupta. "It was the digital footprint at the toll booth that served as the crucial link," he told the media.
Hitmen behind bars
The arrested individuals have been identified as Vishal Srivastava, Raj Singh, and Mayank Mishra.
According to police records, Vishal Srivastava, is a seasoned criminal from Buxar, Bihar, with over 15 cases involving murder and robbery. His accomplices Singh and Mishra, both UP residents, are believed to be professional shooters.
Political storm erupts
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has characterised the murder as a "cold-blooded" act of political vendetta. Adhikari, who recently defeated Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur stronghold during the 2026 Assembly elections, alleged the hit was a direct retaliation for his electoral success.
Also read: From Chakraborty to Rath, Bengal sees another violent death around Adhikari’s inner circle
"He was killed because he was my aide and I defeated Mamata Banerjee. This is the result of 15 years of 'Maha-Jungle Raj,'" Adhikari told reporters, claiming the killers conducted a reconnaissance of the area for three days prior to the attack.
Rath’s mother, Hasirani Rath, echoed these sentiments, directly blaming the TMC for what she termed "gundagardi" (hooliganism).
The three suspects are scheduled to be produced in the Barasat court later today as the investigation shifts toward identifying the masterminds who commissioned the professional hit.
Also read: What is behind West Bengal’s violent turn amid electoral churn?
https://thefederal.com/category/analysis/what-is-behind-west-bengals-violent-turn-amid-electoral-churn-242232