Digha, Nov. 9 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday defended the police encounter in which the accused in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl in Raiganj was killed, saying the police acted in self-defence and that his government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes such as rape, murder, drug trafficking and smuggling.

Speaking to reporters in Digha, Adhikari said the police had acted according to the circumstances and clarified that they do not open fire on every accused, but retaliate when attacked.

"The police have taken action according to the circumstances. The police do not shoot all the accused. Those who attack the police, the police retaliate in self-defence," he said.

The Chief Minister f...