Theories of a “Yogi model” are gaining traction in West Bengal state politics following recent police actions after the gang-rape and murder of a Muslim girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas district. There are allegations that, as in Uttar Pradesh, accused individuals and witnesses are being eliminated through encounters.
The area grew tense after the girl’s body was recovered from a pond in the Suryapur area last Sunday morning. Following CCTV footage leads, police first arrested Provas Mondal. Police claim that when they took Provas to Suryapur around 12:45am on Tuesday, he snatched a police weapon and attempted to flee, firing one round. Police then shot back, killing Provas. Many are calling this a Yogi-model encounter, alleging that key accused or witnesses are being eliminated before facing trial.
Amid the investigation, a highly sensational piece of information has emerged. It is learned that during police custody interrogation, Provas named a BJP leader identified as Raja. Despite a direct indication of the leader’s involvement in this horrific incident, police have not yet arrested Raja. The chief suspect’s death in an encounter on one hand, and the BJP leader named during interrogation remaining untouched on the other, has raised major questions about the entire investigation process and the police’s role.
Meanwhile, the process of arresting other accused continues. Acting on confidential information, a joint force of the STF, Baruipur SOG and district police arrested an accused named Kabir Molla from Basirhat. Police had earlier arrested Anand Sardar and Dibakar Sardar in this case, bringing the total number of arrests to four.
Separately, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Baruipur on Tuesday. After a high-level meeting with police officials at the Baruipur SP office, he said the administration has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy on the matter. Strict action is also being taken against those who attacked police and vandalized vehicles under the guise of protest following the incident. Reviewing video footage, 200 people have already been identified, and 20 have been arrested on charges of obstructing police work.
Overall, the rape and murder of the girl has brought the police’s tough stance and arrests to the fore, while the chief suspect’s death in an encounter and the police’s apparent failure or reluctance to apprehend BJP leader Raja, named during interrogation, has added a new and controversial dimension to the entire case.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report