Calcutta HC tells Bengal govt to file affidavit in encounter death of Baruipur rape-murder accused

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit within two weeks on the investigation into the encounter killing of an accused in the July rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur.

Court seeks affidavit on encounter investigation

It also directed police to preserve all documents, including CCTV footage, in connection with the incident.

A division bench, led by Justice Arijit Banerjee, directed the state to file an affidavit on the investigation into the encounter of the accused in the rape and murder of the girl within two weeks. The petitioner in the PIL seeking impartial probe into the case was directed to file a counter-affidavit within another week thereafter.

Matter to come up for hearing after three weeks

The bench, also comprising Justice Reetobroto Kumar Mitra, said the matter will come up for hearing after three weeks.

The body of the girl, who had gone missing on July 4 while on her way to buy a gift for her friend's birthday, was recovered wrapped in a sack from a pond the next day. Police said she was raped and then murdered.

Accused killed in police encounter

Prabhas Mondal, one of the accused in the case, was killed in a police encounter on July 8 when the investigators took him to the spot for reconstruction of the crime. It was alleged that the accused snatched a service weapon from an officer, fired a shot, and tried to flee, prompting the police to fire in retaliation.