Prahlad Das, the prime accused in the recent rape and murder of a 17-year-old minor girl at Gaighata in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, was killed in a police encounter late Monday night.
Although state police officials are yet to issue a formal statement, sources revealed that the incident occurred while Das was being escorted to the crime scene for a mandatory reconstruction of events.
During the process, the accused allegedly snatched a firearm from an escorting officer and opened fire on the police party. Officers fired back in self-defence, leaving Das critically injured. He was rushed to a nearby state-run hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The minor girl had gone missing around midnight on October 24 after leaving a local musical event following a phone call. Her body was eventually recovered near a relative’s house on Sunday morning. Based on complaints filed by the victim’s family, police detained and subsequently arrested Das, who was also related to the victim.
Following news of his death on Tuesday morning, family members of the deceased accused gathered outside the hospital, leading to heightened tension in the region. A heavy police contingent has been deployed at the hospital premises to maintain order and prevent any escalation.
This incident closely mirrors a similar encounter in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, this July. In that case, Pravas Mondal, an accused in another minor’s rape and murder, was similarly shot dead after he reportedly snatched a policeman’s weapon and attempted to flee during a crime scene reconstruction.
🌐 Stay Connected with The Avenue Mail
Get the latest news and breaking updates delivered instantly to your feed.
🟢Join our WhatsApp Group: Click here to join
📢 The Avenue Mail: Your trusted source for real-time news.
