Kolkata, July 16 -- A spine-chilling act of violence shook the residents of Domjur on Wednesday evening after a 16-year-old schoolgirl was brutally stabbed to death on a busy road.

The accused attacker was later manhandled by a mob and beaten into a critical condition before being rescued by the police.

Reacting to the incident, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) described it as "horrific", alleging that the law and order situation in West Bengal has deteriorated under the BJP government. It claimed that violence, intimidation and assaults have become increasingly common, allowing attackers to act with impunity while the administration remains a "silent spectator". The party further said that ensuring the safety and security of citizens is the government's foremost responsibility and accused the state administration of failing to prevent an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness.

The incident took place on Wednesday evening when the victim, a Class X student of Boluhati Gramya Hitakari Girls' School, was cycling home from her tuition class at around 7 pm. As she reached the Andul Khatirbazar Chandnibagan area, she was allegedly intercepted by the assailant, identified as 24-year-old Samir Das.

Armed with a sharp weapon, Das allegedly launched a sudden attack on the teenager, repeatedly stabbing her in the neck, abdomen and hands. Within moments, the girl collapsed on the road, bleeding profusely. Local residents rushed her to a nearby private hospital, from where she was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Howrah District Hospital. Despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries later that night.

Meanwhile, local residents chased Das as he attempted to flee the scene. A crowd caught hold of him and allegedly assaulted him severely. Amid the tense situation, a team from Domjur Police Station reached the spot and rescued Das from the mob. As he too sustained critical injuries, he was admitted to the ICU of Howrah District Hospital, where his condition is reported to be critical.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the murder was allegedly a premeditated act of revenge by a jilted lover. Das, a resident of Mayureswar in Birbhum district, worked at a factory in Domjur. According to sources, he had allegedly been stalking the girl and persistently pursuing a romantic relationship, which the teenager had rejected.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.