Key Accused in Baruipur Minor Rape-Murder Case Dies During Crime Scene Reconstruction, Police Say

KalimNews, July 8, 2026, Kolkata: The principal accused in the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, died during a police encounter early Wednesday while officers were reconstructing the crime scene, according to West Bengal Police.

Police stated that Prabhas Mondal was taken to Suryapur shortly after midnight as part of the ongoing investigation. During the reconstruction, he allegedly snatched a police firearm, fired at the police team, and attempted to escape. Officers returned fire, and Mondal was critically injured. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead, police said.

The case has sparked widespread public outrage since the victim's body was recovered from a pond in Baruipur. Police have arrested four suspects in connection with the case and have invoked charges of murder, gang rape, destruction of evidence, and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A Special Investigation Team is continuing its investigation.

According to a police statement, Mondal was taken to Suryapur shortly after midnight as part of the ongoing investigation. Police alleged that during the reconstruction of the incident, he snatched a service firearm from a police officer, fired a shot at the police team, and attempted to flee. Officers then opened fire in what they described as an act of self-defence. Mondal sustained bullet injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.

The incident is expected to come under official scrutiny, as is customary in cases involving deaths during police encounters.

The case has drawn widespread public attention since the body of the minor girl was recovered from a pond in Baruipur after she was reported missing by her family. Police have registered a case under charges including murder, gang rape, destruction of evidence, and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is continuing its investigation.

Police have arrested four persons in connection with the case. Besides Prabhas Mondal, the other accused have been identified as Ananda Sardar, Dibakar Sardar, and Kabir Mollah, who was later arrested from Basirhat after investigators traced his whereabouts.

Investigators said CCTV footage collected during the probe allegedly showed the victim walking with Prabhas Mondal shortly before she disappeared. Based on the investigation so far, police alleged that the accused lured the girl to a secluded location, where the crime took place before her body was placed inside a sack and disposed of in a nearby pond. According to the preliminary post-mortem findings cited by investigators, water was found in the victim's lungs, indicating that she may have been alive when she entered the water. The final forensic findings are awaited.

Police further stated that the investigation indicated Mondal had allegedly brought the victim to the location where the other accused were waiting. Officials said the suspects were questioned separately to establish the sequence of events, and investigators believe this helped reconstruct the alleged crime.

The recovery of the girl's body triggered widespread protests across Baruipur and adjoining areas. Demonstrators blocked roads and railway tracks, set tyres on fire, and damaged police vehicles. Authorities said more than 20 people have been arrested in connection with incidents of vandalism and violence.

During the unrest, an innocent man, Indrajit Mondal, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of involvement in the crime. Police later stated that he had no connection with the case. His death has led to a separate criminal investigation.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Baruipur and met the families of both the victim and the lynching victim. He assured them that the investigation would be conducted thoroughly and that justice would be pursued in accordance with the law. The Chief Minister also directed the Director General of Police to submit a detailed report on the incident and the progress of the investigation within 72 hours. He instructed police across the district to strengthen measures aimed at preventing crimes against women and children.

The Chief Minister also stated that authorities had identified individuals allegedly involved in instigating the violent protests and warned that those found responsible for damaging public property or attacking police personnel would face legal action.

Meanwhile, the encounter death of Prabhas Mondal has become the subject of public and political debate. Opposition leaders have raised questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the police have maintained that officers acted in self-defence after the accused allegedly opened fire during the reconstruction of the crime scene.

In a widely reported reaction, Mondal's mother said she believed her son had faced the consequences of his actions. While expressing grief as a mother, she reportedly stated that she would not claim his body and said he had ignored repeated advice from his family and had struggled with substance abuse.

The investigation into the alleged rape and murder, the mob lynching of an innocent man, the violence that followed, and the circumstances surrounding the police encounter remains ongoing. Authorities have urged the public to allow the legal process to continue while investigators complete their inquiries and the courts determine the outcome of the case.