One of the main accused in the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in West Bengal's Baruipur was killed in a police encounter after he allegedly attempted to escape by snatching a police officer's firearm, officials said. The deceased, identified as Prabhas Mondal, was among the key accused in the brutal crime that had triggered widespread outrage. According to police, he was taken to the crime scene shortly after midnight as part of the investigation to recreate the sequence of events when the incident leading to the encounter unfolded.
According to the police, Mondal was brought to the crime scene at around 12.45 am to help investigators reconstruct the crime. During the process, he allegedly snatched a firearm from a police personnel and attempted to flee. Police said they opened fire after he tried to escape. Mondal sustained injuries in the firing and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Authorities have maintained that the firing took place while trying to prevent the accused from escaping custody.
Mother refuses to claim son's body
In one of the most emotional moments following the encounter, Prabhas Mondal's mother refused to accept her son's body, saying he had received the punishment he deserved. Recalling the conversation with police, she said, "Police came to my house and asked me if I was Prabhas Mondal's mother. They told me he had died. I said I do not want to see him anymore. I told them I do not have the strength to go there. Then the police asked me for my identity card."
She further said, "I am his mother, so I will naturally feel pain. But he has been punished for what he did, and now I have found peace. There is no one else in my family to collect the body, and I do not want to see him." Speaking about her son, she added, "I do not know anything. He never listened to anyone. He never listened to his mother. He remained intoxicated throughout the day. I have nothing more to say."
Bengal CM sought police report
The development comes a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday directed Director General of Police Sidd Nath Gupta to submit a report in the rape-murder case of a minor in Baruipur. Adhikari also said that action will be taken against around 200 identified people, who allegedly vandalised public property, damaged police vehicles and railway tracks during the protest that followed the recovery of the 11-year-old girl's body on Sunday.
Hours after the girl's body was recovered on Sunday, a man was beaten to death by angry locals on suspicion of involvement in the girl's death. Three people were arrested in connection with the rape-murder case. A six-member special investigation team (SIT) was formed to probe the matter.
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