Motorcycle used in murder of Suvendu Adhikari’s PA recovered, owner not identified!

The Special Investigation Team probing the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant (PA) of outgoing Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday afternoon recovered the motorcycle which was used in the heinous murder. However, investigating officials are still confused about the real identity of the owners of the motorcycle and four-wheeler used in the murder.

Initial investigation revealed that when Adhikari’s PA was returning home from a BJP function on Wednesday night, he was being chased by a motorcycle driven by the killer. As soon as the officer’s PA’s vehicle reached Dohariya crossing at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, another four-wheeler blocked the path of his vehicle.

As Rath’s car stopped after being blocked by the four-wheeler, a motorcycle driven by the helmeted killer stopped next to him and opened fire indiscriminately at close range, killing Rath on the spot and seriously injuring his driver Buddhadev Bera.

Based on information received from the police, the officer said that within hours of the murder incident at around 10.30 pm on Wednesday night, the four-wheeler that had blocked the path of the chariot was recovered. Whereas, the motorcycle was found on Thursday afternoon at a deserted place, about four kilometers away from the murder site.

Meanwhile, a state police insider said that as per the records of the Motor Vehicles Department, the said motorcycle was registered in the name of Biwas Bhattacharya. His address in department records was recorded as a factory quarter located in Burnpur, an industrial area in West Burdwan district of West Bengal.

However, upon investigation, the police found that no person named Biwas Bhattacharya had ever lived at that address in Burnpur. The person living at that address is Dharamveer Kumar. The investigation also revealed that neither Kumar ever owned any motorcycle nor did he know anyone named Biwas Bhattacharya.

Meanwhile, the number of the four-wheeler that blocked the way for the Rath vehicle on Wednesday night was actually allotted to a vehicle of a different model and colour. The vehicle belonged to William Joseph, manager of a local tea garden located at Matigara-Naxalbari in Darjeeling district of North Bengal. Investigation revealed that the vehicle to which the number was allotted by the Motor Vehicles Department is still in his possession.

Director General of Police Siddharth Nath Gupta confirmed on Wednesday night, hours after the murder, that the number plates used on the four-wheeler and the motorcycle were fake.

A state police insider said that the manner in which the murder was carried out proved that it was planned well in advance and Rath’s daily routine was also being monitored for a long time.

The source also said that the killer stopped the vehicle next to Rath’s vehicle, fired at least ten bullets in quick succession from very close range and fled from the spot. This proves that the killer was an experienced and professional sharp-shooter.