Prabhas Mondal, one of the prime accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, was killed in the early hours of Wednesday (July 8, 2026) during a police encounter.
According to police sources, at around 12:45 a.m., a team from the Baruipur Police Station took Prabhas Mondal to Suryapur, within the limits of the Baruipur Police Station, for the reconstruction of the crime scene. Police said that just before the reconstruction began, Mondal allegedly snatched the service weapon of a police officer, fired one round at the police team, and attempted to flee.
“Just before initiating the reconstruction of the crime at the PO (place of occurrence) in Suryapur, the alleged Prabash Mondal snatched the arm of one police personnel member, fired one round at our team, and attempted to flee the scene. During return firing from the police, the alleged Prabash Mondal was injured and he was immediately shifted to Baruipur Hospital, where the attending doctor declared him dead. Further legal procedure is being done,” said Superintendent of Baruipur Police District Palash Chandra Dali.
Mr. Dali stated that Prabash was seen with the victim earlier and his statement resulted in the arrest of two other accused the following day. “They offered him some money to bring the child. Further investigation is being done,” he added.
“I don’t have any disappointment over what happened today. He got the punishment for what he did. He also didn’t understand the pain of a girl. What happened with him is absolutely right,” Sandhya Mondal, mother of Prabhas Mondal, told media persons.
Preliminary investigation suggested that Prabhas Mondal had abducted the girl and sexually assaulted her before throwing her into a pond. CCTV footage showing Prabhas Mondal with the victim has also surfaced.
Four persons have been arrested in connection with the crime. Those arrested were identified as Prabhas Mandal, Anand Sardar and Dibakar Sardar and Kabir Mollah. On Sunday (July 5, 2026) the body of a 12 -year-old minor was fished out of a pond in Baruipur, West Bengal. It was Prabhas Mondal who had pointed out to locals where the body had been thrown.
The girl had gone missing on Saturday (July 4, 2026), and the family had filed a missing person complaint. After the body was recovered, violence erupted in the area. A mob attacked police personnel, vandalised police vehicles, and blocked roads and railway tracks. A person was also lynched by an irate mob. Allegations have surfaced regarding the police not acting in a timely manner and the accused fleeing from police custody.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met with family members of the victim on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) and assured them of exemplary punishment. Mr. Adhikari had promised justice not only for the family members of the victim but also stated that those who indulged in mob violence will have to face consequences. Police have made 20 arrests in connection with the lynching.
The accused in the sexual assault and murder of the girl have been booked under sections 63 (rape), 70 (2) (gangrape), 103 (1) (murder), and 238 (deliberately tampering with evidence) of BNS and the necessary sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
Published - July 08, 2026 09:22 am IST
