Rape and Murder Accused Prahlad Das Killed in Police Encounter
Prime accused Prahlad Das was killed in a police encounter in West Bengal during crime scene reconstruction for the rape and murder of a 17-year-old.
In a dramatic turn of events in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, Prahlad Das, the prime accused in the brutal rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl, was killed in a police encounter early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred while police were conducting a crime scene reconstruction in the Gaighata area.
The Encounter: Chaos During Reconstruction
According to police sources, officers had taken Prahlad Das back to the location of the crime to reconstruct the events leading to the teenager's death. During this process, the situation turned violent when Das allegedly snatched a service revolver from a police officer and opened fire.
The sudden attack resulted in an injury to one police personnel. In an act of self-defence, the police returned fire, hitting Das. He was immediately rushed to the Chandpara Rural Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. While the police are yet to release an official formal statement, the encounter site—located approximately four kilometres from the Bangladesh border—was quickly swarmed by a large contingent of Bongaon District Police and a forensic team to collect evidence.
A Gruesome Crime
The encounter follows the discovery of a 17-year-old girl's body on Sunday, found behind a neighbour's house in Gaighata. The victim's body was reportedly naked and mutilated, leading her family to allege that she had been subjected to rape before being murdered. Prahlad Das, who was a relative of the victim's family, was arrested on the same day the body was discovered.
Family’s Reaction: Relief Amidst Pain
The victim's father, though devastated, welcomed the police action. While he acknowledged the encounter, he questioned if such an act could ever fill the void left by his daughter.
"It is good that the Police did an encounter. But will this bring back my daughter? Still, whatever the Police did is good. Chief Minister has done a really good job. May no other parents ever have to go through what we went through. Police should do an immediate encounter in such cases," the father stated.
The victim's uncle also expressed gratitude toward the administration and the Chief Minister for their support, noting that they did not expect such swift action. He expressed deep pain over the loss of his niece, whom he had watched grow up.
Political Firestorm Erupts
The encounter has sparked a political debate in the state. Democratic Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra has strongly criticised the incident, alleging that a "culture of encounters" is being promoted in West Bengal, similar to patterns he claims are seen in Uttar Pradesh.
Mitra attacked the BJP, stating that the party is not a political entity but a "party of encounters." He further questioned the BJP's assertions of being a disciplined organization that does not harbour criminal elements, warning that such internal clashes and methods could ruin the state.