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Just before beginning crime scene reconstruction, the accused snatched the weapon from one of the police officials, fired one round at the police and tried to flee.
Prabhas Mondal, the key accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal’s Baruipur, was killed in a police encounter.
The key accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal’s Baruipur, Prabhas Mondal, was shot dead during a police encounter while he was being taken to the crime scene for reconstruction on Wednesday.
According to the police, the Baruipur Police Station’s investigating officer, along with a team of other police officers, left the police station with accused Prabash Mondal at around 12:45 am. The police officials were heading to Surjyapur, where the girl’s dead body was recovered, to reconstruct the crime scene.
The police said that just before starting the reconstruction of the crime scene, Mondal snatched the weapon from one of the police officials, fired one round at the police and tried to flee.
The police fired in self-defence, after which the accused was injured. He was rushed to the Baruipur Hospital immediately, where the doctors declared him dead.
Speaking about the incident, Baruipur SP said, “Prabhas Mondal, the accused in the Baruipur rape and murder case, killed in a police encounter. While the crime scene was being reconstructed, he attempted to snatch a weapon from the police and open fire at them. In retaliation, the police fired back, striking Prabhas; he was declared dead at the hospital.”
The body of the 11-year-old girl, who had been missing since July 4, was recovered from the Surjyapur Haat area a day later after being found stuffed inside a sack. The discovery sparked widespread protests, with residents blocking the Baruipur-Joynagar Road, burning tyres and damaging police vehicles while demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.
Soon after the body was recovered, a man was allegedly lynched by an angry mob on suspicion of involvement in the girl’s death.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday said he had directed Director General of Police Sidd Nath Gupta to submit a report on the case within 72 hours. He also stated that the man killed in the mob violence was innocent.
“We have examined the entire matter. I have conducted a primary analysis. I asked the DGP to submit a report within 72 hours. We will take strict action accordingly. If there is any negligence on the time taken after the complaint was lodged, even if it is one per cent, action will be taken,” Adhikari said after meeting the victim’s family.
The chief minister said authorities had identified around 200 people who allegedly vandalised public property, damaged police vehicles and railway tracks during the protests following the recovery of the girl’s body.
“The youth killed in the mob lynching, Indrajit Mondal, was also innocent. This is what the police told me; these are not my words. He (Mondal) will also get justice. I have met his family members also,” he said.
Police have arrested three people in connection with the alleged rape and murder. A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the case.
With inputs from PTI
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