The West Bengal government has handed over the investigation into the Baruipur police encounter, in which rape and murder accused Prabhas Mondal was killed, to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The decision comes even as a judicial inquiry into the incident has already been initiated, with both investigations set to proceed simultaneously.
Prabhas Mondal, one of the accused in the alleged rape and murder case, was killed in a police encounter in Baruipur late on Tuesday night. Since the incident involved personnel from the Baruipur Police District, the probe has been transferred to the CID to ensure an impartial investigation.
As per established procedure, all police encounter deaths are also subject to a judicial inquiry, which has already begun.
According to police, the encounter took place at around 12:45 am, when investigators took Prabhas Mondal to the crime scene for a reconstruction of the alleged offence.
Police said Ronny Sarkar, Police Circle (PC) In-Charge of Canning Police Station, was standing beside the accused during the reconstruction when Prabhas allegedly attempted to snatch the officer's service revolver and flee.
"The accused tried to snatch the revolver from the police officer and attempted to escape," police said.
According to the police version, when officers chased him, Prabhas allegedly fired one round at the police using the snatched weapon.
Police claimed that Arghya Mondal, the Police Circle In-Charge of Baruipur Police Station, then opened fire in self-defence to protect himself and fellow officers.
"The firing was carried out in self-defence to protect the police personnel," the police said.
Sources said Prabhas sustained two bullet injuries—one on the right side of his chest and another above his waist. He later succumbed to his injuries.
The encounter has sparked a political row in West Bengal, with opposition and rival political factions raising questions over the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A section of the Trinamool Congress compared the encounter to controversial police encounters in Uttar Pradesh, describing it as "Uttar Pradesh 2.0", while another faction within the party welcomed the police action. The Congress and the CPI(M) have also reacted to the incident, calling for a thorough investigation.
With the CID now taking over the police probe, investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events that unfolded on the night of the encounter. The judicial inquiry will continue in parallel to determine whether established legal procedures were followed.
The CID investigation and the judicial probe are expected to independently establish the circumstances that led to the death of Prabhas Mondal during the police operation.
