Prabhas Mondal, one of the prime accused in the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal’s Baruipur, was killed during a police encounter in the early hours of Wednesday (July 8, 2026).
According to police sources, around 12:45 a.m., a team from Baruipur Police Station took Mr. Mondal to Suryapur—within the limits of the same police station—for the reconstruction of the crime scene. Police said Mondal allegedly snatched the service weapon of a police officer, fired one round at the police team, and attempted to flee. He was injured in the return fire, taken to Baruipur Hospital, and declared dead by the attending doctor. This is the first police encounter in West Bengal after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the State in May 2026.
“Just before initiating the reconstruction of the crime scene at the PO (place of occurrence) in Suryapur, the accused snatched the arm of one police personnel, fired one round at our team, and attempted to flee the scene. During the return firing by the police, Prabash Mondal was injured, and he was immediately shifted to Baruipur Hospital, where the attending doctor declared him dead. Further legal procedure is being done,” said Superintendent of Baruipur Police Palash Chandra Dhali.
“I don’t have any disappointment over what happened today. He got the punishment for what he did. He also didn’t understand the pain of a girl. What happened with him is absolutely right,” Sandhya Mondal, mother of Prabhas Mondal, told media persons.
Mr. Dhali stated that Prabash was seen with the victim earlier, and his statement resulted in the arrest of two other accused the following day. “They (other accused) offered him some money to bring the child. Further investigation is being done,” he added.
Preliminary investigation suggested that Mondal had abducted the girl and sexually assaulted her before throwing her into a pond. CCTV footage showing him with the victim has also surfaced. Four persons have been arrested in connection with the crime: Prabhas Mandal, Anand Sardar, Dibakar Sardar and Kabir Mollah.
On Sunday (July 5) the body of the 12-year-old girl was fished out from a pond in Baruipur. It was Mondal who had pointed out to locals where the body had been thrown. The girl had gone missing on Saturday (July 4), and the family had filed a missing person complaint.
After the body was recovered, violence erupted in the area. A mob attacked police personnel, vandalised police vehicles, and blocked roads and railway tracks. A person was lynched by the mob. Allegations have surfaced regarding the police not acting in a timely manner and accused fleeing custody. Police have made 20 arrests in connection with the lynching.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met the family members of the victim on Tuesday (July 7) and assured them of exemplary punishment, promising justice for the family while stating that those who indulged in mob violence would have to face consequences.
The accused in the sexual assault and murder of the girl have been booked under Sections 63 (rape), 70(2) (gangrape), 103(1) (murder), and 238 (deliberately tampering with evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
While Opposition parties raised questions about the encounter, State BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar described the death as “divine justice”.
“The demon Prabhas Mondal, who raped and killed a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, was killed in police firing during the early hours of Tuesday, after he tried to flee with firearms (of a police personnel). Divine Justice!” Mr. Sarkar posted on social media.
In a social media post, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticised the incident, saying, “Baruipur rape murder accused Prabhash Mondal killed in encounter! What is going on @WBPolice ? Bengalis please welcome new Bengal- Uttar Pradesh 2.0 @BJP4Bengal is no government. This is jungle law.”
Published - July 08, 2026 09:22 am IST