Gaighata Minor Rape and Murder Accused Dies in Police Encounter

The main accused in the rape and murder of a schoolgirl in Gaighata has died in a police encounter, following a similar incident reported earlier in Baruipur.

What Happened

Police took the arrested accused, Prahlad Das, to the crime scene in the early hours of Tuesday to recreate the events. While returning from the spot, Prahlad reportedly snatched a revolver from a police officer and opened fire at the police vehicle. A police officer jumped into a canal to escape the gunfire. Another officer then fired back in self-defense, leaving Prahlad with bullet injuries. He was taken to Bongaon Super Specialty Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Background

The case began on the morning of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja when the blood-stained body of an 11th-grade student was found near a relative's toilet in the Gaighata police station area. She had gone out with her friends on Saturday night and failed to return home. The victim's family filed a complaint alleging rape and murder, stating that Prahlad could not have acted alone and demanding punishment for all involved. Police subsequently arrested Prahlad and placed him in custody. Bongaon Police District SP Bidisha Kalita Dasgupta stated earlier that primary investigations point to rape and murder, a medical board was formed, and a post-mortem was ordered.

Context

This incident mirrors a previous case in Baruipur where another accused, Prabhas Mondal, was killed in an encounter after allegedly trying to escape by grabbing a service revolver during a crime scene recreation. Police investigations into the Gaighata case continue to examine whether other individuals were involved in the crime alongside the deceased accused.