Kolkata: The main accused in the rape and murder case of an 11-year-old girl, Prabhash Mondal, was killed in an encounter with police. The incident occurred while the crime scene was being reconstructed, after the accused tried to escape by snatching a policeman’s weapon.
According to police, Prabhash Mondal was taken to the spot late Wednesday night. As part of the investigation, while the full sequence of the crime was being recreated, the accused snatched a police officer’s weapon and attempted to flee. Following this, he was shot in an exchange of fire with police.
The injured accused was later taken to hospital, but doctors declared him dead. Police have launched a separate investigation into the incident.
It may be noted that police have already arrested Prabhash Mondal along with two other accused, Ananda Sardar and Dibakar Sardar, in connection with the gang rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl. After this, police also detained another accused, Kabir Molla, from Basirhat.
According to the police investigation, the culprits had lured the girl to a secluded place as part of a pre-planned conspiracy. The rape and murder took place thereafter. The post-mortem report revealed that water was found in the girl’s lungs. Based on this, investigating officers suspect that the girl was still alive when her body was dumped in the pond.
After the girl’s body was recovered from the pond in a sack on Sunday, widespread tension broke out in the area. Angry locals blocked roads and also attacked railway lines and police vehicles.
So far, police have detained at least 20 people in connection with the violent incidents. At the same time, a man named Indrajit Mondal also died after being beaten by a mob. Police said he was assaulted by a section of people on suspicion of being involved in the rape-murder case.
Meanwhile, state politics has also heated up over the incident. The Trinamool Congress has alleged that police tried to protect the main accused. The Chief Minister has directed the state Director General of Police to submit a report on the progress of the investigation within 72 hours.
