12 More Arrested in Baruipur Unrest; CID Investigates Police Shooting of Accused
The West Bengal Police arrested 12 more individuals on Wednesday night in connection with the violent unrest that erupted in Baruipur following the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl. This brings the total number of arrests related to the rioting to 30.
The state government has transferred the investigation into the police shooting of one of the accused, Prabhas Mandal, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A judicial inquiry into the incident has also begun, and the CID probe will run parallel to the judicial proceedings. The transfer was made to ensure an impartial investigation, as per standard procedure when an incident occurs within the jurisdiction of the local police.
According to police sources, officers brought Prabhas Mandal to the crime scene around 12:45 am to reconstruct the incident. They claim that while standing near Circle Officer Ronnie Sarkar, Mandal attempted to snatch Sarkar's service revolver to escape. During a chase, Mandal allegedly fired a round at the officers. In response, Arghya Mandal, the officer in charge of Baruipur police station, fired his weapon in self-defence, striking Prabhas Mandal twice—once in the right chest and once above the waist.
The encounter has sparked political reactions. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has drawn comparisons to police encounters in Uttar Pradesh, using the phrase 'Uttar Pradesh 2.0' to criticise the opposition. A faction of the TMC, however, praised the government's swift action. Leaders from the Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the encounter, questioning its legality.
The unrest began after the minor's body was found on Sunday. An angry mob beat a man, Indrajit Mondol, to death on suspicion of involvement. The area witnessed railway and road blockades, arson, and attacks on police personnel. Police identified rioters using social media footage.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke with the victim's father, assuring him of justice and maximum legal punishment for the perpetrators. He warned against exploiting the crime to incite violence and stated that no one involved in the rioting would be spared. He also suggested a communal element may have fuelled the mob lynching and accused opposition leaders of instigating the violence.
