Kolkata, July 5 -- After the mutilated body of a 12-year-old girl was recovered from a pond in Baruipur, South 24-Parganas, widespread violence erupted in the area, triggering public outrage that turned into attacks on police personnel, arson and prolonged disruption of rail and road traffic. The irate mob allegedly lynched a local youth on suspicion of his involvement.
As alleged by the family members, the minor was 'gang-raped' and 'murdered' by a few youths.
On Sunday night, police arrested a local youth, identified as Prabhas Mondal, an alleged BJP worker, in connection with the alleged rape-murder case. A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the case.
The victim, who had gone missing on Saturday afternoon after leaving home to buy food, was found floating in a pond near Surjyapur Haat under Dhapdhapi II Gram Panchayat. Her family members and neighbours alleged that she had been abducted, gang-raped by local youths, strangled, and her body dumped in the water.
As news of the incident spread, thousands of residents poured onto the streets demanding immediate action. The victim's family and local residents initially refused to allow police to remove the body, alleging that the perpetrators were yet to be arrested.
The agitation soon turned violent after an enraged mob apprehended a local youth, identified as Indrajit Tanti (26), on suspicion of being involved in the crime. Tanti was beaten to death before police could rescue him.
Protesters blocked the Baruipur-Joynagar Road and the railway tracks on the Sealdah-Namkhana section, disrupting train services for more than five hours. Tyres were set ablaze on the tracks. When police attempted to recover the girl's body, they came under heavy stone-pelting, leaving several personnel injured. The mob also vandalised several police vehicles and set some of them on fire.
The situation was brought under control after heavy police reinforcements were rushed to the area and senior officers assured residents that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke to the victim's grieving father over the phone, assuring him that the case would be tried in a fast-track court and that the government would seek capital punishment for the perpetrators.
Inspector General of Police (Presidency Range) Kankar Prosad Barui said several persons have been detained in connection with the attack on the police and that a massive manhunt had been launched to trace the remaining accused. He also said he had scheduled a meeting with the victim's family at Bhawani Bhavan on Tuesday to coordinate legal assistance.
The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, targeted the BJP-led state government over the incident. In a post on its X handle, the party alleged that crimes against women continued to rise despite the BJP's promises on women's safety.
TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee alleged that the administration had deployed police to prevent her from visiting Baruipur to meet the victim's family. Claiming that she had effectively been placed under surveillance, Banerjee said nearly 1,000 police personnel, including paramilitary forces, had been deployed in and around her residence and alleged that route marches were being conducted outside her house.
In a post on its official Facebook page, the party accused the BJP government of attempting to "choke the Opposition" by restricting the movement and democratic rights of Opposition leaders. It alleged that heavy police deployment outside the residences of Mamata and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee amounted to "a deliberate and cowardly display of intimidation". There was no immediate response from the police or the state government to the allegation.
Abhishek alleged that the BJP had fostered "a climate where those accused of heinous crimes appear to believe they enjoy political protection". He claimed the Baruipur incident raised disturbing questions over whether political influence was overshadowing the pursuit of justice and criticised what he described as the absence of protests, public outrage and demands for accountability following the crime.
TMC leader Derek O'Brien also took to X, alleging that more than 10 police vehicles had been deliberately parked in the narrow lane outside party chairperson Mamata Banerjee's residence to prevent her from leaving for Baruipur to meet the victim's family. TMC MP Mahua Moitra and MLA Kunal Ghosh also made similar claims on their X account.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.