Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday criticised the West Bengal government over the police encounter that killed Prabhas Mondal, the prime accused in the rape and murder case of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas district. Moitra accused the state government of allowing "jungle law" and compared the incident with encounter politics seen in other states. Reacting to the development, Moitra posted on social media platform X, saying, “Bengalis please welcome new Bengal- Uttar Pradesh 2.0 @BJP4Bengal is no government.

This is jungle law.” Her remarks came after police shot dead Mondal during an encounter in the early hours of Wednesday while he was allegedly being pursued in connection with the case. Mondal was among the three accused in the alleged gang rape and murder of the minor girl in Baruipur, located around 35 kilometres from Kolkata. According to police, the incident had triggered public outrage, leading to intensified efforts to track down those accused in the crime.

The police action has sparked a political controversy in West Bengal, with opposition parties and ruling party leaders trading allegations over law enforcement methods.  While police officials have maintained that the encounter took place during an operation linked to the investigation, critics have questioned the circumstances surrounding the killing and demanded accountability. Moitra’s comments targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government, which she accused of adopting a style of governance based on excessive force.

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The BJP, however, has not accepted the criticism and has defended the need for strict action against those accused of serious crimes. The incident has also renewed debate around encounters as a method of dealing with accused criminals. Supporters often argue that such action sends a strong message against violent crimes, while human rights groups and critics have repeatedly raised concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings and the need for due legal process.

The rape and murder case had led to widespread anger in the region, with authorities facing pressure to ensure swift action against the accused. Police investigations into the case are continuing, while legal proceedings against the remaining accused are expected to move forward. The political fallout over Mondal’s death is likely to continue as parties debate issues of crime control, policing methods and accountability. The case has become another flashpoint in the ongoing political confrontation between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal.

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