Bengal STF arrests CPI-M's Layek Ali over Baruipur unrest, toll hits 38
Synopsis
West Bengal's STF arrested CPI-M's Layek Ali late Sunday night over alleged inflammatory remarks during the Baruipur protests — pushing total arrests to 38. The unrest, triggered by the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl on 5 July, has already claimed one life through mob lynching and one in a police encounter, making this one of the most volatile law-and-order crises in the state this year.
Key Takeaways
Layek Ali , CPI-M's Baruipur Paschim Assembly candidate, was arrested by the West Bengal STF on 13 July night over alleged inflammatory remarks during protests.
Total arrests in the Baruipur unrest have risen to 38 .
The unrest was triggered by the alleged gang-rape and murder of a minor girl, whose body was recovered from a pond in Suryapur on 5 July .
Indrajit Mandal was killed in a mob lynching during the protests — later confirmed to have had no connection to the crime.
Accused Pravas Mondal was killed in a police encounter last week after allegedly attempting to snatch an officer's firearm.
CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty has alleged Ali's arrest is politically motivated; Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has visited Baruipur twice and warned of strict action.
The Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police arrested Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Layek Ali on Sunday night, 13 July, in connection with the ongoing unrest in Baruipur, pushing the total number of arrests linked to the violence to 38. Ali had contested this year's Assembly election as the Left Front candidate from the Baruipur Paschim constituency.
Charges and Grounds for Arrest
Police have not formally specified the charges under which Ali was taken into custody. According to sources, investigators found alleged links between him and incidents of road blockades, vandalism, and attacks on police personnel during protests that erupted following the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in the area. A senior West Bengal Police officer said Ali was arrested specifically over alleged inflammatory remarks he made in connection with those protests.
Sources further claimed that Ali was present at the protest site on the day of the incident, and that his arrest was based on evidence gathered during the investigation. He was produced before the Baruipur Sub-Divisional Court on Monday, 14 July. Police added that the roles of several other individuals in the unrest remain under active investigation.
The Baruipur Unrest: What Triggered It
The violence in Suryapur, a locality within Baruipur, was set off after the body of a minor girl was recovered from a pond on 5 July. Police said she was allegedly gang-raped and murdered. The incident sparked large-scale protests, including demonstrators blocking railway tracks, and rapidly descended into broader civil unrest.
In a grim twist, a man identified as Indrajit Mandal was killed in a mob lynching in the aftermath — a case of mistaken identity. Subsequent investigation confirmed he had no connection to the alleged rape and murder. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly stated that Indrajit was innocent, visited his family on Saturday, and separately visited Baruipur twice since the incident to assure strict punishment for the accused and warn of action against those who incited violence.
Arrests in the Crime Against the Minor
So far, four persons have been arrested in connection with the crime against the minor girl. One of them, Pravas Mondal, was killed in a police encounter last week after he allegedly attempted to escape from custody by snatching a firearm from an escorting officer. Adhikari had earlier warned that no one involved in the unrest would be spared.
CPI-M Pushes Back, Alleges Political Motive
The CPI-M leadership has criticised Ali's arrest. Senior CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged the arrest was politically motivated, claiming that 'various kinds of propaganda' had been spread against Ali since the incident first came to light. Adhikari, meanwhile, struck back at the opposition, saying in Baruipur: 'Those who were rejected in the elections are behind this provocation.'
With Ali's arrest, the Baruipur unrest has now claimed 38 arrests in total, underscoring the scale of the breakdown in law and order that followed the recovery of the minor's body. Whether further political figures will be named remains to be seen as the investigation continues.
Point of View
Regardless of the merits of the investigation. West Bengal has a documented history of political arrests being weaponised across party lines, and the CPI-M's 'political motive' charge is a predictable but not automatically dismissible response. What is harder to dismiss is the broader failure: a minor's alleged gang-rape and murder, a mob lynching of an innocent man, one accused killed in custody, and 38 arrests — all within eight days. The Baruipur crisis is a stress test for both law enforcement credibility and political accountability in the state, and the handling of Ali's case will be watched closely by courts and civil society alike.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was CPI-M leader Layek Ali arrested in the Baruipur case?
Layek Ali was arrested by the West Bengal STF on 13 July night over alleged inflammatory remarks linked to protests that erupted following the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur. According to police sources, investigators also found alleged links between him and incidents of road blockades, vandalism, and attacks on police personnel during the unrest.
What triggered the Baruipur unrest?
The unrest began after the body of a minor girl was recovered from a pond in the Suryapur area of Baruipur on 5 July. Police said she was allegedly gang-raped and murdered. The incident sparked large-scale protests, including railway track blockades, and quickly escalated into broader violence.
Who was Indrajit Mandal and what happened to him?
Indrajit Mandal was a local resident who was killed in a mob lynching during the Baruipur protests after being wrongly suspected of involvement in the minor's rape and murder. Subsequent investigation confirmed he had no connection to the crime, and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly stated he was innocent and visited his family.
How many people have been arrested in connection with the Baruipur unrest?
With Layek Ali's arrest, the total number of people arrested in connection with the Baruipur unrest has risen to 38. Separately, four persons have been arrested specifically in connection with the crime against the minor girl.
What has the CPI-M said about Layek Ali's arrest?
The CPI-M has criticised the arrest as politically motivated. Senior party leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that propaganda had been spread against Ali since the incident and that he was detained for political reasons rather than on the basis of genuine evidence.
