A significant legal development has unfolded in the horrific rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, West Bengal. The primary suspect identified in the case, Prabhash Mandal, was killed in a police encounter on Wednesday. The shooting occurred while law enforcement officers were transporting the accused back to the scene of the crime to conduct a reconstruction of the incident.
Details of the encounter
According to police statements, the incident took place late Tuesday night. The investigating officer of Baruipur police station, handling case number 1350/26, along with their team, had escorted Prabhash Mandal to the Suryapur area where the tragedy occurred. Just as the team was preparing to reconstruct the sequence of events at the site, the suspect allegedly seized a service weapon from one of the police personnel. Mandal reportedly fired a round at the officers and attempted to escape the location. In the ensuing retaliatory fire, the suspect was wounded and was immediately rushed to the Baruipur hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Further legal formalities are currently underway regarding the incident.
Case background
The investigation began after the body of a 12-year-old girl was discovered in a pond in the Baruipur region on July 5. The victim had been reported missing since July 4. Her family has consistently alleged that she was raped and subsequently murdered. However, police officials have maintained that confirmation of these allegations is dependent upon forensic and viscera reports, which are currently awaited. The post-mortem examination of the victim was completed on the night of July 5.
Rising tensions and Section 163
In response to the growing unrest in the region, the Baruipur police district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, on Monday, July 6. These orders, effective in areas under three police stations, restrict the assembly of five or more people in any given location until further notice. Heavy police deployment has been maintained to manage the volatile situation following the discovery of the victim's body.
Ongoing investigation and suspects
Authorities examining the case suspect the involvement of three individuals. Investigators believe that one of the suspects had allegedly taken the minor girl to a hut where the other two were already waiting, leading to the commission of the crime. All three suspects have been subjected to continuous interrogation. Preliminary findings indicate that the group may have consumed narcotics prior to the incident. Forensic experts are currently analyzing injury marks found on the victim's body to determine the exact sequence of events, which will be clarified upon the receipt of final reports.
Findings from the post-mortem
Initial post-mortem results suggest signs of ante-mortem drowning, implying that the child was still alive at the time she was thrown into the pond. Investigators believe the victim likely lost consciousness due to injuries sustained before being submerged. The report confirmed the presence of water in the lungs and stomach, a point currently under further scrutiny. Following the crime, the three suspects reportedly dispersed in different directions. Addressing allegations from the victim's parents that the police failed to act promptly after the girl went missing on Saturday, the Director General of Police stated that this aspect will also be formally investigated, and any confirmed negligence will lead to appropriate departmental action. Notably, shortly after the discovery of the body, an angry mob had lynched a man suspected of being involved in the incident.
