Key accused in Baruipur rape-murder case arrested; two others held, three detained

PTI, July 6, 2026, Kolkata: West Bengal Police on Monday arrested the key accused in the alleged rape-murder of a girl in Baruipur, taking the total number of arrests in the case to three, a senior officer said.

The accused, identified as Anand Sardar, was picked up by Baruipur district police from the town's market area in South 24 Parganas in the afternoon following a search operation, he said.

"Sardar, who is the prime accused in the case, has been arrested. He was traced and apprehended from Baruipur market area. With his arrest, the total number of persons arrested in connection with the case has gone up to three," the policeman told news agency PTI.

The accused was picked up through his mobile phone tower location, he added.

The accused would be produced before a local court and taken into police custody for further interrogation, he said.

A six-member Special Investigating Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter, he said.

One person was arrested last night, while another was nabbed this morning.

"Along with them, we have detained three others. Our officers are questioning them for more details. In fact, we got to know about the prime accused's role in the crime as well as his possible location," the officer told PTI.

The body of the victim, who was missing for a day, was found stuffed in a sack in the Surjyapur Haat area, triggering a protest by locals who blocked the Baruipur-Joynagar Road, burnt tyres and damaged a few police vehicles, demanding the arrest of the accused persons.

Hours after the girl's body was recovered on Sunday, a man was beaten to death by angry locals on suspicion of involvement in the victim's death.

Meanwhile, authorities imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in Baruipur, Narendrapur and Sonarpur areas of South 24 Parganas to maintain law and order following tension over the crime.

"The situation is under control, but prohibitory orders have been imposed as a preventive measure to ensure that law and order is maintained. Adequate police deployment has been made in the affected areas," another senior police officer said.

"We appeal to members of the public not to pay heed to rumours and to cooperate with the administration. Strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to disturb peace," the officer added.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said in Kolkata that his government would ensure the girl's family gets justice and called for the strictest punishment for those responsible.

"It's a crime of unspeakable horror. I have spoken to the parents of the victim and the government is doing everything that the family has asked of. They will get justice, and the criminals will get capital punishment. I am happy that the family has reposed its trust in the government," he said.

Adhikari added that, besides the main crime, three cases have also been lodged in connection with the violence that followed.

"There was an incident of mob lynching with a communal angle to it. Railway tracks were damaged, bringing back memories of the 2019 anti-CAA protests and the more recent anti-Waqf Act protest. These apart, two CRPF jawans were assaulted, and a police vehicle was torched," the Chief Minister said.

"We will surely provide justice to the family. But we will also make those frustrated souls, who locked themselves up in their rooms after getting defeated in the elections and who orchestrated the violence, suffer beyond their imagination," he warned, obliquely referring to local TMC leaders suspected of taking part in Sunday's unrest.