Calcutta High Court demands police report on 'encounter killing' of rape accused

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the Baruipur district police to submit a detailed report on the death of Prabhash Mondal, the main accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl, during what is being referred to as an 'encounter killing'.

A Division Bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Partha Sarathi Chattopadhyay issued the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Shiladitya Rakshit, who alleged that the police's version of events was 'fabricated'.

According to police accounts, around 12:45 a.m. on July 8, a team from the Baruipur police station took Mondal to reconstruct the crime scene. Police claim that the accused snatched an officer's service weapon, fired a round at the team, and attempted to flee. In response, Inspector Arghya Mondal fired two rounds, which struck the accused. The autopsy report confirmed two bullet wounds.

The case stems from the abduction, rape, and murder of a minor girl. Her body was recovered from a pond in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas district, on July 5. Four people have been arrested. The incident triggered violent protests, during which an angry mob killed a man suspected of involvement.

Senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing the petitioner, argued that the police failed to provide adequate security during the crime reconstruction. He also questioned the decision to conduct the reconstruction late at night during adverse weather conditions. Advocate General Rajdeep Majumder countered that the police acted in self-defence and noted that a suo motu FIR has been registered, with the Criminal Investigation Department conducting an investigation.

The court will hear the matter again on August 18.