Kolkata, 08 July (H.S.): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal's Baruipur has arrested a fourth accused, Kabir Molla, from Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district. Police said he had been absconding since the incident.

According to police, the investigation was intensified after the minor's body was recovered from a pond in the Surjapur area of Baruipur on Sunday. With Kabir Molla's arrest, the total number of accused taken into custody in the case has risen to four.

Earlier, Prabhas Mondal, one of the accused in the case, died during a police operation in the early hours of Wednesday. Police have stated that he allegedly attempted to escape after snatching a police officer's service weapon during the reconstruction of the alleged crime, prompting officers to open fire. He later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

The other two accused, Dibakar Sardar and Anand Sardar, remain in police custody. According to investigators, Anand Sardar is alleged to be the principal conspirator in the case.

Kabir Molla is scheduled to be produced before a court in South 24 Parganas on Wednesday. The prosecution is expected to seek his police custody for further interrogation to establish additional aspects of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Baruipur on Tuesday and held a high-level review meeting with senior police officials at the district police office. After the meeting, he said the police and administration were following a zero tolerance approach in the case and that stringent action would be taken against all those found responsible.

The Chief Minister also said a separate investigation was underway into the violence, attacks on police personnel and vandalism of government vehicles that took place during protests following the recovery of the victim's body on Sunday. He said several individuals had been identified through video footage and asserted that no one involved would be spared.

According to police, 20 people have so far been arrested in connection with the violence and vandalism following the Chief Minister's directions.

The recovery of the minor's body had triggered widespread unrest in the area. During the protests, 26-year-old Indrajit Tanti was beaten to death by a mob. Police later stated that he had no connection with the alleged crime and was innocent. The Chief Minister also confirmed this during his visit to Baruipur on Tuesday.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh