Two Suspects Killed in Police Encounters Mark Third Fatal Shooting Since BJP Took Power in West Bengal

Two alleged criminals were shot dead by police on Tuesday in West Bengal, the third encounter killing since the BJP assumed office in the state in May. The first incident occurred in the Gaighata block, where Prahlad Das, accused of raping and murdering a minor girl, was killed during a midnight reconstruction of the crime scene. The second took place in Samserganj, where Samiul Sheikh, charged with murdering a local BJP leader, died under similar circumstances. Police said both men tried to seize weapons from the escorting officers and opened fire, prompting retaliatory shooting. State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul shared a Bangla poem titled “Encounter” on social media, urging an end to fear, stressing that public safety must not be compromised and calling for peace in every home. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated that police have been given a free hand to combat crimes against women and drug trafficking. Industry Minister of State Moumita Biswas Mishra praised the police action as the change promised by the BJP, accusing previous Left Front and TMC regimes of neglecting women’s safety and downplaying crimes. Panchayat Minister Dilip Ghosh cited a similar earlier encounter in Baruipur, saying the law must apply equally and that the police need to regain public trust even if the methods are harsh. Opposition voices, including TMC MLA Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay and CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty, questioned the legality of the encounters and how the suspects obtained firearms. Human‑rights group APDR’s Ranjit Shur called the midnight reconstruction with untied hands “highly suspicious”.

Context

The encounters reflect the BJP’s broader “tough on crime” agenda in West Bengal, a strategy aimed at differentiating the current government from its predecessors while facing criticism from opposition parties and rights groups.