Bengal govt hands ₹10 lakh to Gaighata minor rape-murder victim's family
Synopsis
The West Bengal government has delivered a ₹10 lakh compensation cheque to the family of a 17-year-old rape and murder victim from Gaighata, North 24 Parganas — but the case remains far from closed. The main accused, Prahlad Das, died in a police encounter on 26–27 October, and his family is now also demanding state compensation, adding a contentious new dimension to an already volatile case.
Key Takeaways
The West Bengal government handed over a ₹10 lakh compensation cheque to the family of the 17-year-old Gaighata rape-murder victim on 4 November 2026 .
MoS Santanu Thakur delivered the cheque on behalf of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari , accompanied by DM Pragati Nautiyal .
The victim's family has also requested a state government job for one member; Thakur said he would pursue the matter with authorities.
Main accused Prahlad Das , a relative of the victim, was killed in a police encounter on the night of 26–27 October .
Das's family has separately demanded compensation from the state government over his encounter death.
The West Bengal government on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, handed over a compensation cheque of ₹10 lakh to the family of a 17-year-old girl from Gaighata under Bongaon sub-division in North 24 Parganas district, who was raped and murdered last month. The payout marks the state's formal relief response to a case that drew significant public attention after the accused was killed in a police encounter.
Compensation Handed Over
The cheque was delivered on behalf of the state government by Santanu Thakur, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha member from Bongaon constituency and Minister of State (MoS). North 24 Parganas District Magistrate Pragati Nautiyal accompanied Thakur during the handover to the victim's family.
Thakur said he was present in his capacity as a representative of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. He added that the victim's family had made an additional request during the meeting. 'I have come here as the representative of the Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The family member of the victim requested me to arrange for a state government job for one family member. I have assured them that I will take up the matter with the appropriate authorities,' Thakur told reporters.
Family's Response
The victim's father thanked the Chief Minister and the state government while speaking to the media, though he acknowledged the limits of financial relief. 'I know that no compensation can be an alternative to our daughter. But at the same time, our financial condition is quite bad. So, the compensation cheque will at least solve some problems,' he said.
Sequence of Events in the Case
According to reports, the body of the victim was recovered on the night of 25 October from near the residence of Prahlad Das, a relative of the girl and the main accused in the case. Das was arrested on the morning of 26 October and was subsequently taken to the crime scene for a recreation exercise on the intervening night of 26 and 27 October.
During that exercise, Das allegedly attempted to flee after snatching the firearm of an escorting police officer and reportedly fired at on-duty personnel. Police resorted to counter-firing, in which Das was killed. The incident has been classified as a police encounter, though the exact circumstances remain subject to official investigation.
Encounter Death Triggers Fresh Demand
The case has taken an additional turn, with family members of Prahlad Das now reportedly demanding compensation from the state government over his encounter death. The competing demands — from the victim's family and the accused's relatives — underscore the layered legal and humanitarian questions the case has raised. This comes amid broader scrutiny of police encounter procedures in West Bengal, with rights groups and opposition voices calling for independent oversight.
What Happens Next
Minister of State Thakur's assurance of pursuing a government job for one of the victim's family members remains to be formalised, with no timeline or department specified. The demand for compensation from Das's family is yet to receive an official state response. Authorities are expected to clarify both matters in the coming weeks.
Point of View
But the optics are complicated: a BJP minister disbursing funds on behalf of a West Bengal Chief Minister signals a cross-party arrangement that deserves scrutiny on its own terms. More significantly, the demand for compensation by the family of the encounter-killed accused is a signal that the legal fallout from this case is not over. Police encounters in West Bengal have historically attracted contestation, and the absence of a credible independent inquiry into the 26–27 October incident leaves a gap that courts or rights bodies are likely to fill. The government's assurance of a job for the victim's family — unquantified and without a deadline — is the kind of promise that often gets lost in bureaucratic follow-up. Accountability on both counts will require sustained pressure.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation did the West Bengal government give to the Gaighata rape-murder victim's family?
The West Bengal government handed over a compensation cheque of ₹10 lakh to the family of the 17-year-old victim from Gaighata, North 24 Parganas, on 4 November 2026. The cheque was delivered by MoS Santanu Thakur on behalf of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Who was Prahlad Das and how did he die?
Prahlad Das was a relative of the victim and the main accused in the Gaighata rape and murder case. He was killed in a police encounter on the intervening night of 26 and 27 October 2026, after allegedly attempting to flee and snatching a police officer's firearm during a crime-scene recreation exercise.
Why is the family of Prahlad Das demanding compensation?
The family of Prahlad Das has demanded compensation from the West Bengal government over his death in the police encounter of 26–27 October 2026. No official state response to this demand has been reported yet.
What additional request did the victim's family make to the government?
The victim's family requested that the state government provide a job to one of the family members. MoS Santanu Thakur assured the family he would raise the matter with appropriate authorities, though no timeline or specific department was named.
Where did the Gaighata rape and murder case occur?
The case involves a 17-year-old girl from Gaighata under Bongaon sub-division in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Her body was recovered on the night of 25 October 2026 from near the residence of the main accused, Prahlad Das.
