Hunt for killers of Suvendu's aide expands to UP, Odisha

KOLKATA: Investigation into the murder of Bengal CM-designate Suvendu Adhikari's aide Chandranath Rath has expanded to include possible involvement of contract killers from other states, including UP and Odisha.

This came even as sleuths focused on Montu Mondal, a man who was travelling in the SUV in which Rath was shot dead and his driver Buddhadeb Bera suffered multiple bullet wounds. Montu, earlier identified as 'Mintu', escaped after ducking between seats. Police are banking on Montu, reported to be in trauma, for crucial clues.

Sources said a team of investigators left for UP after stumbling upon a call from that state to the owner of a Nissan Micra car, who lives in Matigara, near Siliguri. The call came in response to an ad the owner had posted on a portal to sell his car, police sources said.

A silver-coloured Micra that had blocked Rath's car before bike-borne assailants fired at him had the same registration number as the Matigara car. This Micra was abandoned on the spot and later seized. Cops said footage from CCTVs showed a red hatchback, too, had trailed Rath's SUV. This remains untraced.

Sources said seven to eight people could be involved in the murder. Seven people were questioned and over a dozen detained till late Friday. "No fingerprints or forensic evidence could be recovered from the victim's vehicle, strengthening suspicion about professional assassins. People with a clear knowledge of the roads in the area have been involved in the planning," said an officer.

One of the two bikes used by the assassins was found near Barasat station late Thursday. "The killers might have fled by train. Alternatively, they might have kept the bike near the station to mislead investigators," a police source said. The other bike was found near Kolkata airport early Thursday.

As the probe intensified, the gaze turned to survivor Montu (33). "Montu acted as Rath's assistant and even drove his SUV at times. Montu never sat in the front or middle of the SUV. Files were kept in the middle seat. He sat on the rear left side and went unnoticed by the shooters," said Jhantu, Montu's brother and lawyer.

(Inputs from Amar Kar)