Baruipur encounter: Victim's father thanks CM Adhikari for swift police action
Synopsis
The father of a rape-murder victim in Baruipur publicly endorsed the police encounter killing of the prime accused — and compared Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to an elder brother. With BJP legislator Ratna Debnath, herself a grieving mother from the RG Kar case, also backing the encounter, the episode puts West Bengal's record on custodial justice under fresh scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
The father of the Baruipur minor rape-murder victim publicly thanked CM Suvendu Adhikari for swift police action on Wednesday, 8 July .
Prime accused Pravas Mondal was shot dead in a police encounter at the crime scene on Tuesday night during an incident reconstruction.
Police say Mondal snatched a service rifle from an escorting officer and fired at police before being fatally shot in counter-firing.
BJP legislator Ratna Debnath , mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim, said the police 'did the right thing.' No magisterial inquiry into the encounter had been announced as of Wednesday.
The father of a minor girl allegedly raped and murdered in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, publicly thanked Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday for the speed of police action in the case — a day after the prime accused, Pravas Mondal, was shot dead in a police encounter at the crime scene.
What the Victim's Father Said
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, the grieving father said the Chief Minister had kept his word on ensuring swift justice. 'The Chief Minister is like my elder brother. I have full faith in his commitment to the matter. I am very happy with the prompt action taken by the state police in the matter,' he said.
He also addressed the encounter directly, describing Mondal as a long-known troublemaker in the locality. 'He was rowdy and always in an inebriated state. He did not work anywhere. Considering what he had done with a minor girl, such a punishment was right for him. I am not just saying this. The entire locality feels the same,' the father added.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to police, Pravas Mondal was taken to the crime scene on Tuesday night for a reconstruction of the alleged incident. During the exercise, he reportedly snatched a service rifle from one of the escorting police personnel and attempted to flee. When officers gave chase, Mondal allegedly fired at them using the stolen weapon. Police resorted to counter-firing, and Mondal sustained bullet injuries. He was subsequently rushed to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.
The sequence of events follows a pattern seen in several high-profile custodial encounters across India, and is likely to face independent scrutiny given the circumstances.
BJP Legislator and RG Kar Connection
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Ratna Debnath — herself the mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim — weighed in on the case, expressing satisfaction at the outcome for the Baruipur victim's family. 'I think that the police had done the right thing. One rapist has been killed. Such actions are necessary to save many more minor girls in future from such tragic ends,' Debnath said. She noted, however, that her own daughter's case was yet to reach its conclusion.
Broader Context
The Baruipur case comes amid heightened public and political sensitivity in West Bengal over crimes against women, particularly following the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case that triggered widespread protests in 2024. The encounter death of Mondal is expected to draw scrutiny from rights groups and opposition parties who have previously questioned the due-process standards of custodial operations in the state. As of Wednesday, no magisterial inquiry into the encounter had been announced.
Point of View
But it forecloses a trial that could have produced a verifiable judicial record. West Bengal has seen recurring debate over custodial deaths since the RG Kar protests, and the absence of an announced magisterial inquiry is a due-process gap that courts and rights bodies are likely to flag. Political endorsements of the encounter — from both the ruling side and a BJP legislator with personal stakes — risk normalising extrajudicial outcomes at precisely the moment the state needs credible institutional responses to crimes against women. The real test of CM Adhikari's promise is not the encounter; it is whether the remaining accused face a transparent, time-bound trial.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Baruipur encounter?
Accused Pravas Mondal , prime suspect in the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, was shot dead by police on Tuesday night during a crime-scene reconstruction. Police say he snatched a service rifle and fired at officers before being fatally hit in counter-firing.
Who is Suvendu Adhikari and what role did he play?
Suvendu Adhikari is the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The victim's father credited him with keeping a promise of swift police action in the case, publicly expressing gratitude at a press interaction on Wednesday.
Who is Ratna Debnath and why is her statement significant?
Ratna Debnath is a BJP legislator and the mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder victim. Her endorsement of the Baruipur encounter is significant because it links two of West Bengal's most politically charged crimes against women, and reflects a cross-case public sentiment around accountability.
Will there be an inquiry into the encounter?
As of Wednesday, 8 July, no magisterial inquiry into the encounter death of Pravas Mondal had been announced. Such inquiries are standard procedure under Supreme Court guidelines for all encounter deaths in India.
What is the background of the Baruipur case?
A minor girl from Baruipur in South 24 Parganas was allegedly raped and murdered last week. The case drew political attention in the context of heightened public sensitivity over crimes against women in West Bengal following the 2024 RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case.
