Bengal CM gives ₹25 lakh to family of Baruipur lynching victim Indrajit Tanti
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday, 11 July handed over a compensation cheque of ₹25 lakh to the family of Indrajit Tanti, the 26-year-old youth who was killed by a mob in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas district, on 5 July. Tanti had been wrongly suspected of involvement in the death of a 12-year-old girl whose body was recovered from a local pond that morning — a suspicion that subsequent police investigations conclusively ruled out.
What Happened in Baruipur
The discovery of the minor girl's body on the morning of 5 July triggered widespread violence and unrest in the Suryapur area of Baruipur. In the chaos that followed, Tanti was allegedly set upon by a mob and killed after being falsely linked to the child's rape and murder. Police investigations conducted afterwards confirmed that Tanti had no connection to the crime.
Chief Minister Adhikari, who visited Baruipur on Saturday to inaugurate a police outpost in the Suryapur area — the same locality where both incidents occurred — met Tanti's family members and personally handed over the compensation cheque. He also announced that Tanti's elder brother would be offered employment as a civic volunteer in the state police.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing media persons during the visit, Adhikari declared that the state government stands with the families of both victims — the minor girl and the lynched youth. 'Not a single offender involved in any of the two crimes will be spared,' he said. He credited the minor girl's family for their cooperation in the investigation, noting that they had lodged complaints against four persons, all of whom were subsequently arrested.
One of the four accused managed to flee near the Indo-Bangladesh border at Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district but was later apprehended from there. 'The police had done a good job in the investigation,' Adhikari added.
Encounter Killing of Accused Draws Silence
Adhikari declined to comment on the encounter killing of Pravas Mondal, one of the four arrested in connection with the girl's rape and murder, which took place earlier this week. 'Since the Criminal Investigation Department is conducting a probe in the matter, I will not comment anything on this issue at the moment,' he said. The CID inquiry into Mondal's death adds a further layer of scrutiny to an already sensitive case.
Broader Context and What Comes Next
The Baruipur incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of mob justice, where an innocent man paid with his life for a crime he did not commit. This comes amid recurring concerns across India about vigilante violence triggered by rumour and social media misinformation. With the CID probe into the encounter killing ongoing and the trial of the remaining accused expected to proceed, the case will continue to draw close public attention in West Bengal and beyond.