Baruipur encounter: BJP's Dilip Ghosh calls protesting intellectuals hypocrites
Synopsis
A day after the encounter-killing of the primary accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, BJP's Dilip Ghosh turned the heat on protesting intellectuals — calling them hypocrites and 'anti-social elements.' The episode has cracked West Bengal's political establishment wide open, with the TMC itself split and the CPI(M) and BJP on opposite sides of a debate about justice versus due process.
Key Takeaways
BJP leader and West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh called intellectuals protesting the Baruipur encounter hypocrites on 9 July .
The encounter killed Pravas Mondal , the primary accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in South 24 Parganas .
The TMC (Mamata Banerjee faction) and CPI(M) condemned the encounter; the BJP and rebel TMC section welcomed it.
Congress called for a high-level inquiry without taking a clear stand on the encounter itself.
Social media reactions were sharply split, with many women describing the killing as 'on-the-spot justice' while others warned of a trigger-happy police culture.
Dilip Ghosh, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and West Bengal Minister of Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development, on Thursday, 9 July called the intellectuals condemning the Baruipur encounter hypocrites, saying they were equally responsible for the rise in social crimes. The remarks came a day after the encounter-killing of Pravas Mondal, the first arrested accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in South 24 Parganas district.
What Ghosh Said
Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Ghosh did not mince words. 'These intellectuals are not just hypocrites. There are real anti-social elements who are also responsible for the increase in such social crimes. These intellectuals are only conscious about their self-images. They organise protests when such crimes happen. And when the criminals are punished, they also protest against the punishments,' he said.
Ghosh further argued that those who stand by criminals are as culpable as the criminals themselves. 'They should be treated with eggs,' he added — a remark consistent with his reputation for blunt, controversy-courting statements.
The Baruipur Encounter: Background
The encounter took place on Wednesday, 8 July, when Pravas Mondal — the primary accused in the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas — was shot dead. The incident immediately ignited a political and social firestorm across West Bengal, with reactions sharply divided along ideological and party lines.
Political Fault Lines
The encounter has cleaved West Bengal's political landscape. The faction loyal to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee within the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership have condemned the shooting. The BJP and a rebel-majority section within the TMC have, by contrast, welcomed it.
The Indian National Congress (Congress) has taken a more cautious position, limiting its response to a demand for a high-level inquiry into the circumstances of the encounter.
How Society Is Reacting
Beyond party lines, Bengali civil society is similarly divided. Social media was flooded with reactions from Wednesday onwards. A large section of users — particularly women — described the encounter as 'perfect on-the-spot justice', while a smaller segment warned that endorsing such incidents risks making the police more trigger-happy and could set a dangerous precedent for extrajudicial action.
What Comes Next
Political observers believe Ghosh's remarks will deepen the already charged debate around the encounter. With the Congress demanding an inquiry and the TMC internally split, the episode is likely to remain a flashpoint in West Bengal's political discourse. The broader question — whether encounter killings represent justice or a failure of due process — is now firmly in the public arena.
Point of View
A rhetorical move that forecloses accountability. The TMC's internal split is the more significant story here: a ruling party divided on whether a police encounter is justice or excess is a party that has lost control of its own narrative on law and order. The Congress's demand for an inquiry, while procedurally correct, is conspicuously hedged — suggesting electoral calculation rather than principled stand. West Bengal's encounter debate is not just about one case; it is a stress test for institutional trust in the state's police machinery.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Dilip Ghosh say about the Baruipur encounter?
BJP leader and West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh called intellectuals protesting the Baruipur encounter hypocrites on 9 July, arguing they were 'anti-social elements' responsible for rising social crimes. He said those who stand by criminals are as culpable as the criminals themselves.
Who was killed in the Baruipur encounter?
Pravas Mondal, the first arrested accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, was shot dead in a police encounter on 8 July.
How have political parties reacted to the Baruipur encounter?
The TMC faction loyal to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the CPI(M) have condemned the encounter. The BJP and a rebel section of the TMC have welcomed it. Congress has called for a high-level inquiry without explicitly endorsing or condemning the shooting.
What is the public reaction to the Baruipur encounter?
Public opinion is sharply divided. A large section of social media users, particularly women, praised the encounter as 'on-the-spot justice.' A smaller group warned that normalising such incidents could make police more trigger-happy and undermine due process.
What happens next in the Baruipur encounter case?
Congress has demanded a high-level inquiry into the encounter. Political observers expect the debate to intensify, with the episode likely to remain a flashpoint in West Bengal politics and a broader test of accountability for the state's police machinery.
