Police kill suspect in West Bengal assault-murder case

A key suspect in the assault and murder of a minor girl in West Bengal was killed in a police shooting early Tuesday, July 7, 2026, after allegedly attacking officers during a crime scene reconstruction. The incident followed days of violent public protests and a separate fatal mob lynching in the Baruipur area of South 24 Parganas district.

Police stated that Prabash Mondal, described as a prime accused, was shot after he snatched a service weapon from an officer and opened fire. Officers had taken Mondal to the Surjyapur area around 12:45 a.m. to reconstruct the sequence of events. Authorities said that just before the reconstruction began, Mondal grabbed the pistol, fired one round at the police team, and attempted to flee. Police returned fire, injuring him. He was declared dead at Baruipur Hospital.

Mondal was one of three men arrested in connection with the death of a girl, whose age has been reported as 11 or 12. She was reported missing on July 4, and her body was found inside a sack in a pond in Surjyapur on July 5. Following a preliminary investigation, police added charges of assault, gang assault, murder, destruction of evidence, and provisions of the Protection of...