West Bengal: Rape-murder accused shot dead in police encounter; fourth such incident in five months

A fourth encounter was reported from Raiganj in North Dinajpur district late on Sunday night. The prime suspect in the rape and murder of a minor girl, Dilip Roy, was shot dead while police were attempting to arrest him during a raid on a local village. Roy reportedly opened fire on the raiding team, and officers shot him in self-defence. He was taken to Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Police had been searching for Roy for four days after the decomposed and unclothed body of a minor girl was recovered near the Kulik River on 5 November. The girl had been missing since 3 November, after leaving home on a bicycle. Her family had been searching for her until the body was found two days later.

While reacting to the encounter, the BJP leader said that going against the law has such consequences. “Anyone who goes against the law. They have to face the police. If they do not, they will have to face such consequences,” said Minister Dilip Ghosh.

The first encounter was reported in July from Baruipur, while the second and third occurred on the same day, October 27, in Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district and Gaighata in North 24 Parganas district. 

While the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress(TMC) has responded sharply to these encounters, the Suvendu Adhikari government has been sending out stern messages against zero tolerance for crimes against women. Adhikari, who is also in charge of the Home Ministry, has time and again spoken about taking strict action against those who break the law, particularly in cases of crimes against women.