Vinay Kumar
BARASAT/DOHARIYA: Bengal police are banking on the testimony of a man identified as Mintu to reconstruct final moments of BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari’s aide Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead near his home in Madhyamgram on Kolkata’s northeastern edge, investigators said Thursday. Rath was returning from Kolkata late on Wednesday when gunmen intercepted his SUV near Dohariya on Jessore Road, close to Kolkata airport in North 24 Parganas district. Witnesses alleged a hatchback blocked the Scorpio before shooters on a bike opened fire at point-blank range. Mintu, believed to be travelling in the SUV, escaped unhurt after ducking between seats. Driver Buddhadeb Bera suffered multiple bullet wounds. “He (Mintu) looked visibly shaken and frightened. I had to tell him we were locals before he rolled down the windows,” said Sushanta Sarkar, among the first people to reach the spot. Sarkar, a trader from Dehoriya Methopara and a BJP worker, said he heard what sounded like crackers while feeding stray. “I thought somebody was celebrating BJP’s win or an IPL moment. Then someone came running and said two people had been shot.” “As I reached closer, I heard groans from inside the SUV. The driver would not open windows. I assured him I was there to help,” he said. “When windows finally opened, there was blood everywhere. Rath was slouched in the front seat and breathing at long intervals,” Sarkar said. He claimed Mintu repeatedly cried out, “Sir, what happened? Why did they fire?” Investigators from the police SIT and Barasat police declined comment on Mintu’s whereabouts. The state intelligence branch, part of the probe team, has been tasked with recording his statement. Doctors at Apollo Multispecialty Hospital removed three bullets from Bera’s shoulder, chest and abdomen during a six-hour surgery after he was shifted from a hospital in Madhyamgram. “He is on ventilation support. The next 72 hours are extremely crucial,” a hospital source said. A CID officer said Bera’s condition meant police may not question him for days. “Hence, Mintu will be our main witness,” the officer said.
