Mamata Banerjee: Baruipur lynched youth innocent, orders police probe into lapses
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday directed the Director General of Police to submit a report within 72 hours on possible lapses in the police investigation into the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district.
After the girl went missing on Saturday, a diary was lodged at 11.50 pm. Banerjee said a preliminary analysis of the police role had been done. ‘I have asked the DGP to send me a detailed report on any possible lapses. Then action will be taken. We will not tolerate one per cent lapse,’ she said after visiting Baruipur on Tuesday, two days after the incident led to violent protests.
The chief minister also said that the preliminary police probe found that a 26-year-old youth, lynched on suspicion of involvement in the crime, was innocent. Banerjee met the families of both the girl and the lynched youth. She stated, ‘According to the police, Indranil Mondol, the youth who was the victim of mob lynching, was innocent. Those involved will be charged with murder and arrested.’
Earlier, Banerjee had claimed that the lynching had a communal connection. Alleging political conspiracy behind Sunday’s arson, she said the government would act against those who instigated the violence. ‘There are political people who instigated arson. There are also anti-national elements and radical factions. The police have identified 200 such people. Call records are available. They will not be spared,’ she added.
The chief minister said the girl’s family expressed confidence in the government’s steps. Regarding compensation, she said she would return to Baruipur after a week to do the needful. The family requested a police outpost in their neighbourhood, and she asked the DGP to find a place, even on rent, to set it up.
Baruipur has been on edge for the third day on Tuesday. The minor girl, missing since Saturday afternoon, was found dead in a pond on Sunday morning. Initially a murder case was registered; after postmortem, charges of gangrape under the POCSO Act were added. The preliminary postmortem confirmed sexual assault and antemortem drowning. Three persons – Ananda Sardar, Pravash Mondol, and Dibakar Sardar – have been arrested in connection with the rape-murder, while police are looking for a fourth suspect.
