Raiganj encounter: Bengal police probe source of 9mm pistol used by rape-murder accused Dilip Roy
Synopsis
Dilip Roy, accused of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl in Raiganj, was killed in a police encounter — but the story did not end there. His possession of a sophisticated 9mm pistol has opened a fresh investigation into criminal networks. It is Bengal's fourth encounter since July, three linked to crimes against minors, and the pattern is now too consistent to ignore.
Key Takeaways
Dilip Roy , prime accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Raiganj , was killed in a police encounter on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, 9 November 2026 .
Roy allegedly fired a 9 mm pistol at police officers, puncturing a tyre on a police vehicle; no officer was injured.
North Dinajpur district police are now investigating how Roy obtained the sophisticated weapon and whether he had it before or after committing the crime.
The 12-year-old victim disappeared on 3 November ; her body was found in Kulik forest two days later, with postmortem confirming sexual assault.
This is the fourth police encounter in West Bengal since July 2026 ; three of the four involve accused persons in rape and murder cases involving minors.
Earlier encounter deaths include Prabhas Mondal (Baruipur, July), Prahlad Das (Gaighata, October), and Samiul Sheikh (Samserganj, October).
Police in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district are investigating how Dilip Roy, the prime accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Raiganj, obtained a sophisticated 9 mm pistol that he allegedly used to fire at police officers before being killed in an encounter on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The death of Roy marks the fourth police encounter in West Bengal since July 2026, three of which are linked to rape and murder cases involving minors.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to district police officials, a team of officers tracked Roy to his hideout at Gauri Gram Panchayat in Raiganj. On sensing the police presence, Roy allegedly opened indiscriminate fire at the officers with the pistol. While no policeman was injured in the exchange, a bullet reportedly punctured the tyre of a police vehicle.
Officials stated that Roy initially attempted to flee towards the West Bengal-Bihar border, located close to his hideout. As officers gave chase, he allegedly produced the 9 mm pistol and began firing at the pursuing cops. The on-duty officers, according to police, had no option but to resort to counter-firing, in which Roy was fatally wounded. He was rushed to Raiganj Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The Central Question: Where Did the Pistol Come From?
The recovery of a sophisticated 9 mm pistol from a suspect in a heinous local crime has raised serious questions for investigators. The district police officer said, 'The police had already cordoned off the place of encounter. There are blood stains there. Now, the question is, from where Roy procured this sophisticated 9 mm pistol. Our men are investigating this. The question is also whether he procured that pistol after committing the crime of rape and murder or it was in his possession before that.'
The dual-track investigation — into both the weapon's origin and the rape-murder itself — signals that authorities are treating the firearms angle as potentially linked to a broader criminal network, though no such connection has been officially confirmed.
Background: The Raiganj Rape-Murder Case
The case began with the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl from Raiganj on 3 November 2026. Her decomposed body was recovered two days later from the nearby Kulik forest. Her family alleged rape and murder, and a subsequent postmortem examination confirmed sexual assault before the killing, according to officials.
Dilip Roy was identified as the prime accused and had reportedly evaded arrest before being tracked down to the Gauri Gram Panchayat area.
A Pattern of Encounters in West Bengal
The Raiganj incident is now the fourth police encounter in West Bengal since July 2026, with three of the four involving accused persons in rape and murder cases involving minors. This pattern has drawn both public attention and scrutiny over due process.
In July, Prabhas Mondal — accused of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas — was shot dead by police during what officers described as a crime scene reconstruction visit, alleging he snatched an officer's firearm and opened fire. In October, Prahlad Das, accused in the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in Gaighata, South 24 Parganas, was killed in a similarly described encounter while reportedly attempting to escape during a crime scene reenactment. On the same day, Samiul Sheikh, arrested for the murder of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in Samserganj, Murshidabad, was also killed in an encounter.
Notably, in each of the previous three cases, the encounter narrative involves an accused either snatching a police weapon or producing one of their own while in custody or during reconstruction exercises — a pattern that critics argue warrants independent scrutiny, though no formal inquiry has been announced.
What Happens Next
Investigators are expected to trace the supply chain of the 9 mm pistol to determine whether Roy had criminal links beyond the immediate case. With three encounters involving crimes against minors now on record in under five months, questions over due process and accountability in West Bengal Police operations are likely to intensify in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Leaving police with no option but to fire back. The recovery of a sophisticated 9mm pistol from a suspect in a local rape-murder case raises a legitimate question about criminal arms networks in the region, but it also raises due-process questions that West Bengal Police has not yet addressed publicly. As public anger over crimes against children runs high, the risk is that institutional accountability gets lost in the emotional aftermath — which is precisely when it matters most.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dilip Roy and what was he accused of?
Dilip Roy was the prime accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl who disappeared from Raiganj, North Dinajpur, on 3 November 2026. Her decomposed body was recovered two days later from the Kulik forest, and postmortem examination confirmed sexual assault before the killing.
What happened during the Raiganj police encounter?
Police tracked Dilip Roy to his hideout at Gauri Gram Panchayat in Raiganj. He allegedly opened fire with a 9mm pistol at officers and attempted to flee towards the West Bengal-Bihar border. Police resorted to counter-firing, in which Roy was fatally wounded; he was declared dead at Raiganj Medical College and Hospital.
Why are police investigating the 9mm pistol found with Dilip Roy?
Police are probing the weapon because a sophisticated 9mm pistol is unusual for a suspect in a local rape-murder case, raising questions about criminal networks. Investigators are also trying to determine whether Roy had the pistol before or after committing the crime, according to district police officials.
How many police encounters have occurred in West Bengal since July 2026?
There have been four police encounters in West Bengal since July 2026, three of which involve accused persons in rape and murder cases involving minors. The earlier deaths were Prabhas Mondal in Baruipur (July), Prahlad Das in Gaighata (October), and Samiul Sheikh in Samserganj (October).
What are the concerns raised about the pattern of West Bengal encounters?
Critics argue that the recurring pattern — in which accused persons are described as producing or seizing firearms at critical moments during police operations — warrants independent scrutiny. Each encounter follows a similar sequence, prompting questions about due process and accountability, though no formal inquiry has been officially announced.
