Prabhas Mondol, a primary suspect in the gang-rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, was killed in a police encounter on July 7 night during a crime reconstruction exercise, where he allegedly snatched a constable's revolver and fired at police before being shot. Mondol was reportedly seen with the victim before her disappearance and confessed to luring her to the location of the crime, for which he was allegedly paid

Prabhas Mondol, a primary suspect in the gang-rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, was killed in a police encounter on July 7 night during a crime reconstruction exercise, where he allegedly snatched a constable's revolver and fired at police before being shot. Mondol was reportedly seen with the victim before her disappearance and confessed to luring her to the location of the crime, for which he was allegedly paid

Prabhas Mondol, a primary suspect in the gang-rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, was killed in a police encounter on July 7 night during a crime reconstruction exercise, where he allegedly snatched a constable's revolver and fired at police before being shot. Mondol was reportedly seen with the victim before her disappearance and confessed to luring her to the location of the crime, for which he was allegedly paid

Prabhas Mondol, one of the prime accused in the Baruipur gang-rape and murder case involving a 12-year-old girl, was killed in a police encounter on July 7 night.

Mondol was seen in the CCTV footage walking with the victim before the crime and is believed to have lured her to the shack where the other accused were present. He was reportedly given Rs 10,000 to bring her there. The girl went missing on Saturday and her body was found the next day. Police have arrested four persons in this case.

The encounter occurred during the crime reconstruction exercise in Suryapur area near the pond where the victim’s body was found. Mondol allegedly snatched a revolver from a constable and fired one round at the police. In retaliation, police reportedly fired two rounds, hitting him on the chest and waist. An injured Mondol was taken to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

"He got what he deserved for what he did," his mother Sandhya told reporters after the police informed her of Prabhas's death early on Wednesday. "I don't want to see his face. I will not go to claim the body, and nobody from the family will either," she said.

This is the first police encounter of a miscreant in custody under the BJP in West Bengal. “The BJP government has taken strong action. No accused will be spared. That is the message.” Party state president Samik Bhattacharya said.

BJP leader Debjit Sarkar termed the encounter as “divine justice”.

Police videographed the site of the incident. An executive magistrate reached the hospital where Mondol’s body was kept for magistral inquest after which the body will be taken for a post mortem. The remaining three accused are being interogated.

Trinamool Congress leaders of the Mamata Banerjee faction have responded sharply to the incident saying this the beginning of UP 2.0, referring to similar encounters in Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

“He is the only eyewitness and led the police to the body,” said TMC MP Mahua Moitra. She added that Mondol was seen in a video talking to police about a person named Raja. “Who is Raja? Who is the BJP shielding? On one side, BJP leader Santu Mondol got the three accused released in the beginning, out of which Ananda Sardar (accused) had to be rearrested. On one hand, the BJP in Bengal is trying to get them released. This is just the beginning, people of Bengal watch out. This is UP 2.0.”

TMC leader Saugata Roy said, “The accused should be produced in court. But like in Yogi’s state, encounter deaths have begun. This is Suvendu Adhikari’s contribution. A day after he went to Baruipur, the encounter death took place. There are no words to condemn this. There should be a report on this and the encounters like in Yogi’s state should stop.”

CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said the Left Front believes it is a planned encounter, and hinted that the motive was to divert attention from other issues for which the BJP government is facing flak and that the issue was taking a communal turn.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met the victim’s family in Baruipur on Wednesday.

Menawhile, the Mamata faction of the TMC is holding a protest march in Baruipur. The former CM had earlier alleged she was under house arrest and that the BJP government was preventing her from meeting the victim’s family. She, however, spoke to them over the phone.

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