The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the West Bengal Police probing the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, is now examining a possible connection between some of the accused and an organised girls' trafficking racket reportedly operating in the area. The development emerged on 10 July as investigators widened the scope of the probe beyond the immediate crime.

Trafficking Angle Under Investigation

A district police officer from the Baruipur Police District, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the trafficking line of inquiry was opened after investigators gathered leads while questioning family members and neighbours of the arrested accused. The officer declined to name which specific accused are suspected of trafficking links.

'There is a possibility that the victim might have been lured by one of the accused on the pretext of trafficking. However, later, the accused persons, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, committed the crime. But all these aspects are subject to further investigation,' the officer said.

The Accused and the Encounter

Four persons were arrested in connection with the case: Pravas Mondal, Dibakar Sardar, Ananda Sardar — identified as the suspected prime accused — and Kabir Mollah. Of these, Pravas Mondal was killed in a police encounter early on Monday after he allegedly attempted to snatch the firearm of a police personnel.

The West Bengal state government has entrusted the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with probing the encounter and submitting a report. A parallel judicial probe into the encounter is also underway, according to officials.

A Pattern of Missing Girls in the Area

District police officials noted that the locality in Baruipur where the crime occurred, along with adjoining areas, has become notorious in recent years for a high number of missing girls. According to police records, around 150 girls — the majority of them minors — have gone missing from the area over the last three years, raising suspicions of an organised trafficking network operating in the region. This is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern that investigators are now attempting to map.

Political Response

Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, has repeatedly stated that if voted to power, his government would follow a 'zero tolerance' policy towards crimes against women and ensure the strictest punishment for offenders in such cases.

What Comes Next

The SIT probe is expected to intensify as investigators attempt to establish whether a structured trafficking network facilitated access to the victim. The CID's encounter report and the judicial inquiry findings will be critical in determining accountability at multiple levels. The case has cast a sharp spotlight on the safety of minors in South 24 Parganas and the effectiveness of law enforcement in curbing trafficking in the district.