Kolkata, 08 July (H.S.): The police encounter in which Prabhas Mondal, one of the prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur, was killed has triggered a fresh political controversy in West Bengal. The state Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, while the CPI(M) alleged that the episode reflected an authoritarian trend.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Shubhankar Sarkar called for a judicial probe to be conducted by a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court. He questioned the circumstances surrounding the encounter during the reconstruction of the crime scene and sought a thorough investigation into the sequence of events.

Sarkar said several questions remained unanswered, including how an accused allegedly managed to escape despite being surrounded by police personnel. He argued that the incident warranted a comprehensive inquiry to establish whether such an occurrence was possible under the security arrangements in place.

The Congress leader also alleged that investigators should examine whether allowing the accused to remain alive could have exposed a larger conspiracy. Referring to reports circulating in the public domain, he claimed that any alleged links with political organisations should also be investigated. He stressed that all possible angles must be examined impartially and said such incidents were unacceptable in a democratic society.

Expressing concern over the encounter, Sarkar said the state should not follow a model where police encounters become a substitute for due legal process. He maintained that the judiciary was the most appropriate institution to conduct an independent investigation and demanded that the probe be entrusted to a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court.

Reacting to the incident, senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said the encounter reflected what he described as the footsteps of authoritarian rule. He questioned the circumstances under which the accused was killed and called for transparency in the investigation.

The political reactions came a day after police said Prabhas Mondal was shot during an alleged escape attempt while being taken to the crime scene for reconstruction of the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur. Police have maintained that officers opened fire in self-defence after the accused allegedly snatched a service weapon and fired at them. The investigation into the case is continuing.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh