Baruipur Encounter Case: Calcutta High Court Asks Police for Detailed Report

The Calcutta High Court has taken strong notice of a recent police encounter in Baruipur, West Bengal. On Thursday, the court asked the District Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Baruipur to submit a detailed report about the encounter death of Prabhash Mondal. Mondal was a prime suspect in the terrible rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl. The court wants to know the exact circumstances that led to his death during police custody.

What Happened in Baruipur?

The tragic story began on July 4, when an 11-year-old girl went missing from her village in Baruipur. Her family immediately filed a missing person report with the police. A few days later, her body was found floating in a local pond. CCTV footage helped the police identify Prabhash Mondal as the man who followed and kidnapped the young girl. According to police reports, Mondal and three other men allegedly committed the crime and threw her body into the pond.

The news of the young girl's death caused immense anger in the local community. Angry citizens protested on the streets, attacked police officers, damaged vehicles, and blocked railway tracks and roads. People demanded immediate justice for the victim. Protecting young girls and ensuring public health and safety is crucial in every community, much like raising awareness through cervical cancer prevention and health awareness programs across the country.

The Police Encounter Claims

Police arrested Prabhash Mondal along with three other suspects: Anand Sardar, Dibakar Sardar, and Kabir Mollah. In the early hours of July 8, the Special Investigating Team (SIT) took Mondal to the crime scene near the pond to reconstruct how the crime took place. According to the state government's submission in court, things turned violent during this crime scene reconstruction.

The police stated that Mondal suddenly grabbed a service revolver from SIT officer Rony Sarkar. He then allegedly fired at the police officers in an attempt to escape into the dark. In response, another police officer, Arghya Mondal, fired back at him because they could not catch him. Prabhash Mondal received two bullet wounds. Police took him to a nearby local hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

High Court Demands Police Affidavit

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by petitioner Shiladitya Rakshit, challenging the police version of events. The petitioner questioned how an arrested suspect could so easily snatch a weapon from a police officer. Hearing the petition, a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee directed the Baruipur DSP to place a complete report on record in the form of an affidavit.

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Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing the petitioner, argued forcefully in court. He stated that the police failed to provide proper security while taking a dangerous suspect to the crime scene late at night. He stressed that if adequate security measures had been present, the suspect could never have grabbed a gun, and the death could have been avoided entirely.

State Government and Legal Procedures

Representing the state government, Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar explained that police had to fire in self-defense. He informed the High Court that the police have already registered a suo motu case regarding the encounter. Furthermore, the CID (Crime Investigation Department) is currently supervising the detailed investigation into the shooting incident.

Legal experts note that while police encounters often create strong public reactions, following proper legal procedures is vital in every democracy. Just as citizens seek fair treatment when fighting for legal rights and consumer protection in civil matters, criminal cases also demand strict adherence to due process under the law to maintain public trust.

What Comes Next?

The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for August 18. Until then, the state police must prepare their official affidavit detailing all the security protocols used during the crime scene reconstruction and explaining the exact circumstances of the fatal shooting. The court's intervention aims to ensure complete transparency, legal accountability, and justice for all parties involved in this sensitive case.