Civil rights organisations demand probe into Baruipur encounter
Several civil rights organisation have demanded an investigation into the encounter at Baruipur on July 8, where one of the accused in the sexual assault
Several civil rights organisation have demanded an investigation into the encounter at Baruipur on July 8, where one of the accused in the sexual assault and murder of a 12-year-old was killed in police action. Prabhas Mondal was killed in the encounter after he allegedly attempted to snatch a service firearm from a police officer and flee while accompanying the police for the reconstruction of the crime. “It is hoped that the Chief Minister will abide by the Supreme Court’s directives, ensure a genuine investigation into the encounter death, take appropriate action, and secure exemplary punishment for the guilty through due legal process for all crimes — including the rape-murder in Baruipur and deaths caused by mob lynching,” said Subha Protim Roy Chowdhury of Amra Ek Sachetan Prayas. The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) has called for investigation by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge.
“At this moment, we feel that it was a fake encounter to mislead the investigation. We demand that all the three incidents - the rape and murder of the girl, the lynching of a youth and the encounter of Prabhas Mondal should be investigated by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge,” Ranajit Sur, vice-president of APDR said. Following the death of the 12-year-old girl, Indrajit Mondal, whom the police later said was innocent, was beaten to death by an irate mob. Kirity Roy of MASUM said that the police had reconstructed the crime without any cameras at 1 a.m., which was not believable. “In accordance with the Constitution, the Supreme Court’s PUCL v. Maharashtra (2014) and D.K. Basu v. Govt. of West Bengal (1997) judgments and Human Rights Commission guidelines on encounter deaths, an FIR should be lodged against the Baruipur Police in the killing of Prabhas Mondal,” Mr. Roy said.
The demand for judicial inquiry was also raised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. The civil rights groups have raised questions on the encounter even as several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Ministers in West Bengal government, have hailed police action. Several civil rights organisations also engaged in a fact-finding mission. A fact-finding report by Paschim Banga Khet-Majdoor Samity, Shramajibi Mahila Samity, Bhukha Manuser Avizan and Amra Ek Sachetan Prayas raised questions on the role of a local BJP leader named Shantanu, who allegedly secured the release of accused Ananda Sardar from police custody. The police had arrested Anand Sardar, Prabhas Mondal, Dibakar Sardar and Kabir Molla in connection with the sexual assault, of whom Prabhas Mondal was killed in a police encounter. “All the accused, including Shantanu Mondal, must be arrested immediately.
The BriefWire