Baruipur encounter: Slain accused's mother says son got deserved punishment
Synopsis
In one of the most striking reactions to emerge from the Baruipur rape-murder case, the mother of slain accused Pravas Mondal publicly refused to claim his body and said he got what he deserved — even as questions linger over the encounter's circumstances and a fourth accused remains at large.
Key Takeaways
Pravas Mondal , first accused in the Baruipur rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl , was killed in a police encounter on Tuesday night, 8 July .
His mother, Sandhya Mondal , declined to claim or view his body, saying he 'got the right punishment for what he did.' Police say Mondal snatched a service rifle during a crime-scene reconstruction and opened fire before being shot.
A six-member SIT is probing the case; two other accused — Dibakar Sarkar and Ananda Sardar (prime accused) — have been arrested.
A fourth accused, Kabir Molla , remains absconding; police moved to arrest him on Wednesday .
The mother of Pravas Mondal, the first accused arrested in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, West Bengal, said on Wednesday, 8 July that her son received the punishment he deserved — a reaction that underscored the depth of public outrage over the case. Mondal was killed in a police encounter the previous night.
What the Mother Said
Sandhya Mondal told reporters she would neither claim nor view her son's body. 'I will not go to see my son's body, nor will I go to receive his body,' she said. While acknowledging a mother's natural grief, she did not express any grievance over the outcome. 'As a mother, I am pained by his death. But he got the right punishment for what he did,' she said.
According to reports, police visited her residence on Wednesday morning to inform her of her son's death. She declined when asked whether she wished to see the body.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to police, Pravas Mondal was taken to the crime scene on Tuesday night for a reconstruction of the alleged offence. During the exercise, he allegedly snatched a service rifle from an escorting officer and attempted to flee. Police said Mondal opened fire while trying to escape, prompting security personnel to retaliate. He sustained bullet injuries and was later declared dead at a local hospital.
Notably, encounter deaths during crime-scene reconstructions have drawn scrutiny in the past, with rights bodies questioning the circumstances. Police accounts in such cases remain the primary version on record until independent inquiry concludes.
The Crime That Triggered Outrage
The case centres on the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl, whose body was recovered from a pond in the Suryapur area of Baruipur on Sunday morning. The incident sparked widespread protests, with local residents demanding immediate arrests and stringent punishment.
A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the case. Interrogation of Mondal reportedly led to the arrests of two more individuals — Dibakar Sarkar and Ananda Sardar, the latter identified by police as the prime accused.
Fourth Accused Being Pursued
Police on Wednesday moved to arrest a fourth accused, Kabir Molla, who had been absconding since the alleged crime took place on Saturday evening. His arrest is expected to be a key step toward completing the chargesheet against all named accused.
With the SIT probe ongoing and one accused still at large, the case continues to demand accountability — both for the crime and for the manner in which the investigation has unfolded.
Point of View
And the absence of independent oversight in such operations is a systemic gap. The SIT must account not only for the crime but for the full sequence of events on Tuesday night. Justice for the 12-year-old demands both — conviction of the guilty and transparency about how the state exercised lethal force.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Pravas Mondal and why was he killed in an encounter?
Pravas Mondal was the first accused arrested in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, West Bengal. According to police, he was killed on Tuesday night, 8 July, after he allegedly snatched a service rifle during a crime-scene reconstruction and opened fire while attempting to flee.
What did Pravas Mondal's mother say after the encounter?
His mother, Sandhya Mondal, said she would neither claim nor view her son's body. She told reporters, 'As a mother, I am pained by his death. But he got the right punishment for what he did.'
What is the Baruipur rape and murder case about?
The case involves the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl whose body was recovered from a pond in the Suryapur area of Baruipur on Sunday morning. The incident triggered widespread protests in West Bengal, leading to the constitution of a six-member SIT.
Who are the other accused in the Baruipur case?
Apart from Pravas Mondal, two others — Dibakar Sarkar and Ananda Sardar — have been arrested. Ananda Sardar has been identified by police as the prime accused. A fourth accused, Kabir Molla, was absconding as of Wednesday and police were moving to arrest him.
What happens next in the Baruipur investigation?
The six-member SIT continues to probe the case. Police are pursuing the arrest of the fourth accused, Kabir Molla. With three accused in custody and one killed, investigators are expected to move toward filing a chargesheet once all accused are apprehended.
