Key facts
- A 12-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Baruipur, West Bengal.
- Four people were arrested in connection with the crime.
- The main accused, Prabhas Mondal, was killed in an alleged police encounter.
- The incident has led to political clashes between the ruling TMC and the BJP.
- The TMC has criticized the encounter, while the BJP has supported it.
The rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, West Bengal, has ignited widespread protests and violent clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The incident has escalated into a significant political flashpoint, with both parties trading accusations regarding law and order in the state.
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the crime. The key accused, Prabhas Mondal, was reportedly killed in an alleged police encounter after attempting to flee with firearms. The TMC has condemned this action, with MP Mahua Moitra describing it as "jungle law" and suggesting it was staged to prevent the disclosure of internal BJP secrets. MP Kirti Azad echoed this sentiment, claiming Mondal was a BJP worker with inside information.
Conversely, the BJP has lauded the encounter as "divine justice" and a demonstration of their "zero tolerance" policy towards crimes against women. BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar stated that Mondal received justice after trying to escape, and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya asserted that the government had acted firmly.
During a protest march led by TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee, clashes erupted between BJP and TMC supporters, leading to police intervention with baton charges. Banerjee accused BJP supporters of obstructing the rally and assaulting TMC workers, questioning the police's role in undermining a high court order that had permitted the march. The BJP has not yet responded to these specific allegations.