Suvendu Adhikari Aide Killed in Pre-Planned Attack: Police

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of Chandranath Rath has found that the assailants had prior information about Rath's position inside the vehicle while he was returning home on Wednesday night, police sources said on Saturday. The attack was carried out by bike-borne gunmen who were brought in from outside West Bengal, according to investigators.

The SIT believes that at least eight people were involved in the operation, including local criminal associates who provided logistical support to the shooters.

Three people have been detained in connection with the killing and are being questioned, police said, adding that no arrests have been made so far.

The SIT has recovered one motorcycle near the No. 11 rail gate area in Barasat and another motorcycle was found near the crime scene, both of which had been stolen earlier. Two police teams have been sent to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as investigators suspect the sharpshooters were brought from those states. The court will resume hearing on the case after the investigation is complete, with the police expecting to file a chargesheet soon.