Kolkata, India – Indian police have arrested at least 35 people in connection with violence and vandalism that erupted in West Bengal state. The arrests followed the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl.
The case has sparked widespread outrage and reignited the debate about the safety of women and girls in the country.
Protests and violence
Police said that protesters have blocked roads and burned vehicles since the girl’s body was found inside
a pond in the city of Baruipur, located about 30 kilometers from Kolkata, a day after she disappeared.
A senior police officer, Arvind Kumar Anand, explained that the authorities have
so far arrested 35 people on charges related to acts of violence and vandalism.
He pointed out that investigations are continuing to identify other people involved through circulating video clips.
The police added that an innocent person was killed during the riots that accompanied the protests.
One of the suspects was killed
In another development, police announced they shot and killed one of four suspects in the rape and murder of the young girl.
This occurred after he attempted to flee while being taken to the crime scene as part of the investigation.
They stated that the suspect, identified as Prabhas Mondal,
was shot in the early hours of Wednesday morning after trying to escape from police.
Renewed concerns about women’s safety
The case has reignited ongoing concerns about the safety of women and girls in India,
despite stricter laws implemented after the 2012 gang rape and murder in New Delhi.
That crime sparked widespread protests and resulted in the execution of four men.
The incident also comes less than two years after the 2024 rape
and murder of a female medical intern at a college and hospital in Kolkata.
That case, too, triggered widespread protests across India and calls for enhanced protections for women.
