Baruipur minor rape-murder case: Key accused killed in police encounter

A fierce political controversy has erupted in West Bengal following the death of the prime accused in the brutal rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur. The accused was killed in a police encounter early Tuesday when he allegedly snatched a firearm and fired at officers while being taken to the crime scene for reconstruction. The minor's body was previously recovered from a local pond, triggering massive public outrage and violent protests. Following the encounter, the mother of the accused refused to claim his body, stating he deserved his fate. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked a bitter political slugfest in the state. The ruling party praised the police action, asserting a strict zero-tolerance policy towards criminals and rapists. In contrast, the opposition labelled the encounter as fake, alleging it was a deliberate move to silence a political worker who possessed sensitive internal secrets.