The disappearance of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, West Bengal, has drawn significant attention after CCTV footage reportedly showed her with a man wearing a blue cap shortly before she went missing. This came to light after she left her home in the Dhopdhopi II Gram Panchayat area around 4:30 pm on Saturday to purchase a birthday gift for a friend. Her family, upon her failure to return, searched throughout the night and raised allegations of kidnapping involving four local men, claiming a lack of initial police intervention exacerbated the situation.

By approximately 8 pm on the same day, the girl’s relatives and local residents discovered the CCTV footage. The video allegedly depicted the individual in the blue cap guiding the girl away. This evidence prompted community members to trace the suspect’s whereabouts, leading them to his residence at around 4 am on Sunday. Under sustained pressure from the locals, the suspect allegedly revealed where the girl’s body was concealed.

Following this lead, residents located the girl’s body, reportedly stuffed inside a sack, in a pond near Surjyapur Haat around 9 am on Sunday. The suspect further indicated that three to four individuals had participated in the abduction. The grim discovery of the body catalysed intense emotions among locals, prompting them to seek justice swiftly.

Public Outrage and Violence Erupts

The recovery of the victim’s body triggered widespread chaos in the area. As news spread, tensions escalated, and an angry crowd allegedly assaulted the youth who disclosed the location of the girl’s body, necessitating police intervention to rescue him. Among the enraged residents, 26-year-old Indrajit Tanti was apprehended and subsequently lynched; he was declared dead upon arrival at a hospital.

This incident incited further unrest across Baruipur, with protesters blocking the Baruipur–Joynagar Road by burning tyres and obstructing traffic. Demonstrations escalated to vandalising police vehicles and staging sit-ins on railway tracks, causing disruptions to train services on the Sealdah–Namkhana section for several hours. In light of the escalating violence, senior police officials, including Inspector General Kankarprasad Barui, were dispatched with additional personnel to manage the situation.

Authorities engaged with the protesting crowd, promising that those responsible would face severe consequences, including capital punishment. They also announced the formation of a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve deeper into the case.

Political Ramifications and Community Response

The incident sparked a political confrontation, intensifying the issue in a politically charged environment. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reportedly communicated with the victim’s father, assuring him of swift justice and extending an invitation for the family to come to Bhabani Bhawan on Tuesday. Following these assurances, the victim’s family urged protesters to lift the road and rail blockades to facilitate the post-mortem procedure.

Police subsequently filed three First Information Reports (FIRs) relating to the alleged murder, the mob lynching, and the assault on law enforcement personnel. Furthermore, a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was taken into custody for questioning, adding to a total of two arrests and three detentions made in connection with the case. To maintain order, authorities enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the region.

Political figures from various parties expressed solidarity, with former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attempting to visit the victim’s family. Delegations from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Trinamool Congress also made their way to Baruipur, highlighting the multifaceted implications this tragic case has on local politics and community dynamics.

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