Civil Rights Groups Demand Judicial Probe into Baruipur Encounter Killing

Several civil rights organisations have demanded an investigation into the encounter that took place in Baruipur on July 8, where one of the accused in the sexual assault and murder of a 12-year-old girl was killed in police action. Prabhas Mondal was killed after he allegedly attempted to snatch a service firearm from a police officer and flee while accompanying the police for the reconstruction of the crime.

Subha Protim Roy Chowdhury of Amra Ek Sachetan Prayas stated, 'It is hoped that the Chief Minister will abide by the Supreme Court’s directives, ensure a genuine investigation into the encounter death, take appropriate action, and secure exemplary punishment for the guilty through due legal process for all crimes — including the rape-murder in Baruipur and deaths caused by mob lynching.' The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has called for an investigation by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge.

Ranajit Sur, vice-president of APDR, said, 'At this moment, we feel that it was a fake encounter to mislead the investigation. We demand that all three incidents — the rape and murder of the girl, the lynching of a youth, and the encounter of Prabhas Mondal — should be investigated by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge.'

Following the death of the 12-year-old girl, Indrajit Mondal, whom the police later said was innocent, was beaten to death by an irate mob.

Kirity Roy of MASUM questioned the police's reconstruction of the crime, which took place at 1 a.m. without any cameras. 'In accordance with the Constitution, the Supreme Court’s PUCL v. Maharashtra (2014) and D.K. Basu v. Govt. of West Bengal (1997) judgments and National Human Rights Commission guidelines on encounter deaths, an FIR should be lodged against the Baruipur Police in the killing of Prabhas Mondal,' Mr. Roy said.

The demand for a judicial inquiry was also raised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. The civil rights groups have raised questions on the encounter even as several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including ministers in the West Bengal government, have hailed the police action.

Several civil rights organisations also engaged in a fact-finding mission. A fact-finding report by Paschim Banga Khet-Majdoor Samity, Shramajibi Mahila Samity, Bhukha Manuser Avizan, and Amra Ek Sachetan Prayas raised questions about the role of a local BJP leader named Shantanu, who allegedly secured the release of accused Ananda Sardar from police custody. The police had arrested Ananda Sardar, Prabhas Mondal, Dibakar Sardar, and Kabir Molla in connection with the sexual assault, of whom Prabhas Mondal was killed in a police encounter.

'All the accused, including Shantanu Mondal, must be arrested immediately. An investigation should be conducted to determine whether the abduction, rape, and brutal murder were part of a larger conspiracy,' the fact-finding report said.

Meanwhile, the Baruipur Police arrested five more people for their alleged involvement in mob violence and an attack on police personnel, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 35.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had visited Baruipur earlier this week and met family members of the 12-year-old girl, is likely to visit the area again next week.