BARUIPUR: The outskirts of Kolkata turned into a battleground on Sunday after a young girl, who went missing on Saturday afternoon, was found dead inside a sack in a village pond. The tragedy quickly triggered violent protests as furious residents took the law into their own hands.
Believing the minor had been raped and murdered before being dumped, an angry mob attacked and lynched a 40-year-old local man whom they suspected of being connected to the crime. The situation spiraled out of control as protestors refused to hand over the girl’s body to the authorities, set several police vehicles on fire, and blocked key roads for hours. Train services on the Sealdah-Namkhana line were also completely disrupted by the demonstrations.
To bring back order, a massive team of security personnel and central forces rushed to the spot. The state government immediately set up a 6-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to fast-track the case. By Monday, police had arrested three main accused individuals—identified as Pravas Mondal, Dibakar Sardar, and Ananda Sardar—under strict gangrape, murder, and POCSO laws.
The incident has also triggered a massive political storm. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a candle-light march in Kolkata demanding swift justice, while current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke to the victim’s father, promising that the state would push for capital punishment.
To prevent further clashes and control the emotional outbreak, the police have imposed strict prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, banning public gatherings in Baruipur, Sonarpur, and Narendrapur.
