Chandrakant Rath killing: CBI conducts searches at multiple locations

KOLKATA: The CBI conducted searches at multiple locations on Saturday in connection with the murder of Chandrakant Rath, an aide to West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, officials said.The searches began late Friday night and continued into the early hours of Saturday, they added.The agency recently took over the investigation into Rath’s murder from the West Bengal Police after a request from the state government.The agency has constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a DIG from its Special Crime unit in Delhi and comprising experienced investigators from different wings, officials said.The SIT will function under the supervision of the Joint Director in Kolkata.Rath, who served as executive assistant to Adhikari, was shot dead on May 6 in Madhyamgram, just two days after the results of the closely contested West Bengal assembly elections were announced. The attack took place on a public road in the Doharia area of Madhyamgram.State police had earlier arrested three people in connection with the case. Two accused — Mayank Raj Mishra and Vicky Maurya — were apprehended in Bihar’s Buxar district, while the third accused, Raj Singh, was detained from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.According to police, at least eight individuals were allegedly involved in planning and carrying out the murder. Investigators suspect the attackers conducted extensive surveillance before targeting Rath.(With agency inputs)