Baruipur minor rape-murder: Bengal Police files 702-page chargesheet in 60 days
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Police on Thursday, 3 September confirmed that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, has filed its first chargesheet before a district court — exactly 60 days after the crime was recorded. The 702-page chargesheet marks a significant procedural milestone in one of the most disturbing child-abuse cases to shake West Bengal this year.
Timeline of the Crime
The victim was reported missing on the afternoon of 4 July. Her body was recovered the following morning, on 5 July, from a pond in the Suryapur area under the jurisdiction of Baruipur Police Station. Investigators established that the crime occurred between the night of 4 July and the early hours of 5 July.
The incident triggered a statewide uproar, prompting the state government to constitute a dedicated SIT and order a thorough investigation.
What the Post-Mortem Revealed
The autopsy report delivered deeply disturbing findings: the victim was alive when she was wrapped in a sack and thrown into the pond. According to the post-mortem, she suffered severe injuries to her private parts and head. The report cited excessive bleeding and underwater suffocation as the two causes of death.
Arrests and Encounter
A total of four persons were arrested in connection with the case. One of the accused, identified as Prabhas Mondal, died in a police encounter after allegedly snatching the firearm of an escorting officer and attempting to flee.
Charges Filed
According to sources within the state police, the accused have been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including:
Section 137(2) (kidnapping), Section 140(3) (kidnapping or abducting with intent to keep a person secretly confined), Section 65(1) (rape of a female minor under 16 years of age), Section 70(2) (gang rape of a female under 18 years of age), Section 103(1) (murder), Section 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), and Section 61 (criminal conspiracy).
Additionally, the accused have been charged under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which pertains to aggravated penetrative sexual assault against a child — one of the most serious offences under the statute.
What Happens Next
With the chargesheet filed at the Baruipur District Court, the case now moves to the trial stage. Given the gravity of the charges — including POCSO provisions and gang rape of a minor — the case is likely to be heard by a designated fast-track special court. The three surviving accused face the prospect of the harshest penalties under Indian law, including life imprisonment or the death penalty for the murder charge.