Kolkata, Nov 10: A fugitive suspect accused of the heinous rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl was killed in an armed police encounter in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district early Monday, sparking intense political discourse across the state as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari strongly defended the police action as lawful self-defense.
The deceased accused, identified as Dilip Roy, had been the target of a four-day manhunt following the horrific discovery on November 6 of the minor’s body in a forested stretch along the Kulik River. Police stated that Roy, an acquaintance and neighbor of the victim’s family, had lured the child into the woods under false pretenses before subjecting her to sexual assault and fatal violence.
Acting on intelligence inputs regarding the suspect’s movements towards the Bihar border, a police team intercepted Roy around 2:00 AM at Parapukur in the Gouri gram panchayat area. Officers stated that when challenged, Roy opened fire at the tracking squad, with a projectile striking the tire of an operational police vehicle. In retaliatory fire, personnel shot Roy, who subsequently succumbed to his injuries at Raiganj Medical College and Hospital.
Addressing media personnel in Digha, Chief Minister Adhikari—who holds the state Home portfolio—categorically defended the police team’s conduct. “When someone attacks police, they retaliate in self-defence. Is the police supposed to keep its gun in its pocket? Will the police throw rasgullas if they are fired upon by criminals?” Adhikari remarked, asserting that his administration enforces strict zero-tolerance towards sexual violence, narcotics smuggling, and illicit cross-border networks.
The encounter drew sharp condemnation from the opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC). TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee criticized the encounter culture, questioning the state government’s overall record on women’s safety and alleging that staged encounters cannot substitute for systematic deterrence and institutional policing.
Published by True Roots Media