Kolkata: Prabhas Mondal, the prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in West Bengal’s Baruipur, was shot dead by police during a crime scene reconstruction in the early hours of Wednesday after he allegedly attempted to escape from custody.
According to police, Mondal was taken to the Surjyapur area of Baruipur around 12:45 a.m. to recreate the sequence of events related to the crime. During the exercise, he allegedly tried to snatch a police firearm and flee. Officials claimed that Mondal fired one round after obtaining the weapon, prompting police personnel to retaliate in self-defence. He sustained bullet injuries and was immediately taken to Baruipur Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Mondal was one of the three individuals arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl. The other two accused have been identified as Ananda Sardar and Dibakar Sardar. Investigators had identified Mondal as a key suspect after CCTV footage reportedly showed him with the victim shortly before the crime.
The case has triggered widespread outrage across the state. The victim, who had gone missing on July 4, was found dead the following day, with her body stuffed inside a sack in the Surjyapur Haat area. The gruesome discovery sparked massive protests, with angry residents blocking the Baruipur-Joynagar Road, burning tyres, and vandalising police vehicles while demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.
In the aftermath of the incident, a man was beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of being involved in the girl’s murder. Authorities later stated that the lynched individual was innocent.
To ensure a comprehensive investigation, the police constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed Director General of Police Sidd Nath Gupta to submit a detailed report on the incident. He also announced that legal action would be initiated against nearly 200 people identified for allegedly damaging public property, police vehicles and railway tracks during the violent protests that followed the recovery of the victim’s body.
