Opposition parties, led by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), on Wednesday, 8 July sharply condemned the West Bengal government over a police encounter killing in Baruipur, alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is replicating what they described as the 'Uttar Pradesh pattern' of extrajudicial killings. The controversy erupted after one of four accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl died in a police encounter, triggering fierce political and legal debate across the state.

What Happened in Baruipur

The deceased was among four persons arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur. One accused had earlier died in a mob attack; the second was killed in a police encounter, reportedly during midnight hours. The sequence of deaths in custody has drawn intense scrutiny from opposition leaders and civil society.

Opposition Voices: TMC Leads the Charge

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee alleged that those arrested in the case have links to the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and claimed the police are eliminating accused persons to prevent them from making statements. 'People in the area are claiming that those arrested in the Baruipur case are associated with the BJP and RSS. Now, one after another, they have been killed. One died in a mob attack, while another was killed in a police encounter that too during midnight,' he said. He also questioned why the accused was taken out of custody at midnight, asserting: 'A person who is in custody cannot be taken out between evening to morning.'

TMC MP Saugata Roy echoed these concerns, calling the police's account 'fabricated.' 'The police have presented a fabricated story. This is the same explanation the police often give in encounter cases — that the accused was trying to escape and they had to open fire,' he said. Roy demanded that those responsible among the police face 'the strictest possible punishment.'

Other Parties Weigh In

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Bhai Virendra described the crime against the minor as 'tragic' but firmly opposed extrajudicial action. 'No government has the right to carry out an encounter. The court is there to punish him. He could be granted life imprisonment or even death penalty,' he said, urging that due legal process be followed.

West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar drew comparisons with the Hathras and Unnao rape cases, arguing that BJP's pre-election promise of 'zero tolerance' on crimes against women and a 'Sonar Bangla' under a 'double engine government' had not translated into ground reality.

Government's Defence

Bengal Minister Tapas Roy defended the police action, stating that the accused attempted to flee during investigation and tried to snatch a police officer's firearm. 'What could the police do with such criminals? This sends a clear message that the West Bengal government has zero tolerance for crimes against women,' he told reporters. He added that all those involved in the case would receive 'strict punishment according to the law.'

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The Baruipur encounter has reignited a longstanding national debate around custodial deaths and police accountability in India. Critics argue that encounter killings — regardless of the severity of the alleged crime — bypass judicial oversight and set a dangerous precedent. This comes amid a pattern of similar controversies in multiple BJP-governed states, which opposition parties have repeatedly flagged. Legal experts and rights groups are expected to demand an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the encounter. The political fallout is likely to intensify as West Bengal approaches its next electoral cycle.