Bengal: Key accused in Baruipur rape-murder case killed in police encounter

Kolkata, Jul 8 (PTI) One of the key accused in the rape and murder of a girl in West Bengal's Baruipur was killed in an alleged encounter early on Wednesday after he tried to "escape from police custody" during a crime scene reconstruction exercise, a senior officer said. The accused was taken to Surjyapur in the Baruipur area of South 24 Parganas district on Tuesday night for the reconstruction of the crime scene, he said. According to the police officer, the accused allegedly snatched a firearm from a policeman and attempted to escape custody. He also allegedly fired at the police personnel, prompting them to retaliate in self-defence, the officer said. The accused sustained bullet injuries in the exchange of fire and was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead, the police said. He was one of the prime suspects in the case and had been seen with the 11-year-old girl in CCTV footage before the alleged rape and murder of the minor, the officer said. The investigation into the incident is underway, he added. The body of the girl, who had gone missing on July 4, was found stuffed in a sack in Surjyapur Haat area the next day, triggering a protest by locals who blocked the Baruipur-Joynagar Road, burnt tyres and damaged a few police vehicles, demanding the arrest of the accused persons. Hours after the girl's body was recovered on Sunday, a man was beaten to death by angry locals on suspicion of involvement in the girl's death. Three people were arrested in connection with the rape-murder case. A six-member special investigation team (SIT) was formed to probe the matter. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had on Tuesday directed Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta to submit a report in the case of the rape-murder of a minor in Baruipur within 72 hours, and said that the person who was lynched by a mob in the aftermath of the incident was innocent. Adhikari also said that action will be taken against around 200 identified people, who allegedly vandalised public property, damaged police vehicles and railway tracks during the protest. PTI BSM BDC BDC