'It wasn't lynching': West Bengal CM on Indrajit Mondal's death after Baruipur unrest
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has refused to describe the mob killing of Indrajit Mondal as a lynching, saying the victim's identity had already been established before the attack. He also alleged that "radical communal forces" and politically motivated elements may have fuelled the violence that followed the murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said he would not describe the killing of Indrajit Mondal as a lynching, despite the man being beaten to death by a mob following the recovery of a 12-year-old girl's body in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas.
Speaking after meeting Mondal's family, the Chief Minister argued that the victim had been identified before he was attacked, distinguishing the incident from what he considered a lynching. He handed over a government job appointment letter and financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to Mondal's family.
Allegations of political and communal instigation
Adhikari alleged that the violence was not entirely spontaneous and suggested that "radical communal forces", ultra-left elements and individuals rejected by voters may have played a role in provoking unrest.
He said police were investigating not only those who took part in the violence but also people suspected of encouraging the attacks from behind the scenes. According to the Chief Minister, even as authorities appealed for calm, incidents of stone-pelting and attacks on police personnel, including women officers, continued.
What sparked the Baruipur unrest?
The violence erupted after the body of a 12-year-old girl, who had been missing since 4 July, was discovered stuffed inside a sack in a pond in the Surjapur Haat area of Baruipur.
The discovery triggered widespread public outrage. Protesters blocked roads, burnt tyres, vandalised police vehicles and demanded immediate action against those responsible for the girl's rape and murder.
Amid the protests, a mob allegedly targeted Indrajit Mondal, suspecting him of involvement in the crime. He was beaten to death before police could intervene.
The incident has drawn attention to the dangers of mob justice, as authorities continue to investigate both the murder of the minor and the subsequent violence.
Investigation continues
Police have arrested four people in connection with the rape and murder of the girl. One of the accused, Prabash Mondal, was later killed in a police encounter after he allegedly attempted to snatch a police officer's firearm while being taken to the crime scene for reconstruction.
Authorities have also launched action against those involved in the unrest, with more than 35 people arrested for alleged vandalism, attacks on police personnel and other acts of violence during the protests.
The case now involves two parallel investigations—one into the rape and murder of the 12-year-old girl and another into the mob killing of Indrajit Mondal and the violence that followed. Police are examining the role of alleged instigators as well as those directly involved in both incidents.