Crime
Baruipur horror: Main accused in alleged rape and murder of minor girl arrested; senior cops dissatisfied with handling of the case
Kolkata/IBNS: The primary accused in the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in West Bengal's Baruipur has been arrested as the incident sparked violent protests by the locals and kept the area on boil since Sunday.
Ananda Sardar, the main accused, has been arrested.
Three accused have so far been nabbed by police.
Tension flared in the region which falls under South 24 Parganas district, an outskirts of Kolkata, after the body of a minor girl, who had gone missing since Saturday evening, was recovered from a pond.
Locals alleged that she had been raped and murdered.
Tensions escalated after an angry mob allegedly lynched one of the suspects, identified as 26-year-old Indrajit Tanti, accusing him of involvement in the crime.
According to reports, the girl left her home at around 4 p.m. on Saturday to visit a nearby shop but never returned. After searching for her throughout the night without success, her family lodged a missing person complaint with the police.
Her body was found floating in a pond on Sunday morning, triggering outrage among locals.
Enraged locals initially refused to allow police to take custody of the body.
According to reports, they attacked vehicles, set some on fire, and blocked a key road in the village, disrupting traffic and escalating tensions.
The situation was eventually brought under control after senior police officials reached the spot and appealed for calm.
Using a megaphone, police urged residents to cooperate with the investigation and assured them that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“Just a short while ago, the Chief Minister spoke to us directly over the phone. He assured us that no person involved in this crime will be spared. We urge everyone to cooperate with the government and police during the investigation. We stand with you at every step,” Presidency Range Inspector General Kankarprasad Barui told The Indian Express.
After police took custody of the body, it was sent to the Baruipur Sub-Divisional Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Following violence and tension over the recovery of a minor girl's body in Baruipur, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Baruipur, has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS in areas under Baruipur, Sonarpur and Narendrapur police stations with immediate effect.
According to state police sources, senior officials are dissatisfied with the handling of the incident by Baruipur Police Station.
The District Superintendent of Police has been asked to submit a detailed report explaining the role of the officer-in-charge (IC) and other police personnel, including the actions they took after receiving information about the incident.
Preliminary findings have reportedly indicated lapses. Sources said that if the report establishes negligence on the part of any officer, strict disciplinary action is likely to follow.
State police sources further claimed that senior officials are also unhappy with the role of the Superintendent of Police of Baruipur Police District. The SP has allegedly come under scrutiny for reaching the spot much later than expected.
Police are investigating both the alleged rape and murder of the minor and the subsequent lynching of the suspect.
A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the Additional Superintendent of Police, has been constituted to probe the incident.
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