Prahlad Das, the accused in the rape and murder of a minor girl in Gaighata, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, was killed in a police encounter in the early hours of Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The incident has drawn sharply divided responses from political leaders, with ruling alliance ministers defending the action and an opposition MP demanding a judicial inquiry.

How the Encounter Unfolded

According to sources familiar with the development, Das was taken to the crime scene after his arrest for a reconstruction of the sequence of events. During the exercise, he allegedly snatched the firearm of an escorting police officer and opened fire at the personnel. The escorting officers retaliated, leaving Das critically injured. He was subsequently shifted to a nearby state-run hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

What Ministers Said in Defence

West Bengal minister Ashok Kirtania backed the police action, asserting that those involved in crimes against women and children would face appropriate consequences. 'This is Suvendu Ji's government, and Suvendu Adhikari is the police minister. Those who commit wrongdoings and commit such crimes against women and children will face appropriate action, like the action taken last night,' Kirtania said. He further warned, 'Those involved in hooliganism should mend their ways. Those who commit rape should change their ways or they, too, will face the same fate in the future as what happened now.'

Minister Dilip Ghosh also defended the encounter, drawing parallels with past incidents. 'Such an incident has happened before as well, where an accused involved in a murder was fleeing, and an encounter took place. Something similar has happened here too. No one is above the law. If someone breaks the law, they will face such consequences,' Ghosh said. He also stressed the need to restore law and order in West Bengal, noting that sustained lawlessness had made citizens less fearful of consequences.

Opposition Calls for Judicial Probe

All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saugata Roy questioned the circumstances of the killing and called for an independent inquiry. 'No, this is an encounter killing by the police. The police have done this before as well, and it appears that the same has happened here. There should be a judicial enquiry into the matter,' Roy said. His remarks reflect broader concerns — shared by civil rights groups in past similar cases — about the accountability of police in encounter killings and the due process implications when an accused dies in custody.

Background and Broader Context

The original crime — the rape and murder of a minor girl in Gaighata — had triggered public outrage in the region. The encounter comes against a backdrop of sustained political debate in West Bengal over law and order, especially regarding crimes against women. Notably, encounter killings of accused individuals remain legally contentious in India; the Supreme Court has in past rulings mandated mandatory magisterial inquiries into all cases where individuals die during police action. Whether such a probe will be ordered in this instance remains to be seen.