An intense police investigation in Baruipur suburb of Kolkata turned deadly last night when the prime suspect of the 11-year-old girl's rape and murder was killed in a shoot-out in quick succession. A police team took Mondal back to the crime scene for a police reconstruction of the incident around midnight, the official said. A police fire erupted when Mondal tried to snatch a gun from an officer in an attempt to run away from police custody, according to the official. Mondal was one of three suspects in the investigation after the young girl’s body was found stuffed in a sack and thrown in a local pond, a brutal crime which has rattled the conscience of the region.
The horrific nature of the crime has triggered a huge wave of public outrage and has sent shockwaves through the southern suburbs of Kolkata. Angry local residents rallied in violent protests that have caused extensive damage to railway tracks and police vehicles. The collective rage of the community after the initial discovery also resulted in a tragic case of mistaken identity and vigilante justice. A mob lynched an innocent man, Indrajit Mondal, beating him to death just because they suspected him of his involvement in the minor’s assault and murder.
Law enforcement agencies have since taken a very tough approach and arrested at least 20 people in relation to the riots and lynching for their involvement. After a high-profile visit to Baruipur by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who has strongly condemned both the actual crime and the subsequent public rioting, the Chief Minister said police have so far identified a total of about 200 people responsible for the ruckus and damage to public infrastructure. Adhikari warned the culprits of the violence that lawlessness will not be tolerated and promised the public that there will not be any respite as the government will take firm legal action to restore the situation.
