West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday (July 11, 2026) visited Baruipur for the second time in a week and met the family members of a 12-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and killed, and the relatives of Indrajit Mondal, the youth murdered in the ensuing violence.
Mr. Adhikari offered ₹25 lakh to the family of Mondal and offered a job to one of his family members. He also said that arrangements have been made to provide old-age pension to his father and aid under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme to his mother.
The Chief Minister had earlier said that Mondal, an auto-rickshaw driver, was innocent and that those involved in his killing would be charged with murder. As many as 35 persons have been arrested in connection with the case so far, including five more arrests made today. “Indrajit’s death was not because of mob lynching; his identity was established before he was murdered,” Mr. Adhikari said.
Speaking about the violence, the Chief Minister said, “Those rejected in elections could have instigated the violence. Also, I am not writing off the presence of communal radical forces. It could also have been the result of an ultra-Left conspiracy.”
Mr. Adhikari also met the family members of the 12-year-old girl and assured them of the government’s support. “I have told the family that there will be a custody trial of the culprits. Conviction will be monitored by the Chief Minister. We had some responsibilities on behalf of the government. We are standing by the family,” he said.
Lauding the efforts of the Baruipur District Police, Mr. Adhikari said officers had tracked down and arrested the accused from different parts of the State, including Bakkhali and Digha. The Chief Minister said his government would ensure exemplary action in the case. “We will set a precedent. I will monitor everything,” he said.
The incidents at Baruipur have emerged as the first law-and-order challenge for the Suvendu Adhikari government. The crisis began as a 12-year-old girl went missing on July 4, 2026, with her family filing a missing-person complaint. After the body was recovered, widespread violence erupted in the area. A mob attacked police personnel, vandalised police vehicles, and blocked roads and railway tracks. Amid the unrest, Indrajit Mondal was killed by a mob.
One of the prime accused in the sexual assault and murder case, Prabhas Mondal, was killed in a police encounter on Wednesday (July 8. 2026). The encounter has since come under scrutiny, with Opposition parties and civil rights groups raising questions over the circumstances of the killing.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister also blamed illegal liquor vends and drug-related activities for contributing to the volatile situation and announced for a Statewide crackdown.
”Baruipur’s incident has both an action and a cause behind it. I believe illegal liquor dens, cannabis, charas and drugs are a major reason behind such crimes. A special drive will be conducted against them,” he said.
Published – July 11, 2026 01:43 pm IST
