India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
The wife of Prabhas Mondal, one of the main accused in the Baruipur rape and murder case who died in an alleged police encounter on Wednesday said she could not say whether her husband was innocent and claimed that she had faced abuse during their marriage.
Champa Mondal made the remarks while speaking to reporters after being informed about her husband’s death. She said Prabhas did not have a regular source of income and spent most of his time at home.
Prabhas Mondal, accused in the Baruipur rape and murder case, died during a police encounter in Surjyapur, South 24 Parganas after allegedly attempting to flee during a crime scene reconstruction exercise.
“I cannot say whether he committed this crime. After our marriage, I saw his behaviour. I suffered a lot of abuse while living with him. When his name surfaced in the case, I felt he was capable of doing something like this,” she said.
Prabhas Mondal was the first person arrested in connection with the Baruipur rape and murder case and was among the prime suspects. Police had earlier said CCTV footage allegedly showed him with the minor girl shortly before she went missing.
According to investigators, Mondal was taken to the Surjyapur area of South 24 Parganas district around 12.45 am for a crime scene reconstruction exercise.
Police claimed that during the exercise, he snatched a service firearm from a police officer, fired a round at security personnel and tried to escape. Officers then opened fire in self-defence, leaving him with bullet injuries. He later succumbed to his injuries, police said.
The case triggered widespread public anger after the body of the girl, who had gone missing on July 4, was found stuffed inside a sack in the Surjyapur Haat area the following day.
The recovery of the girl’s body sent shockwaves through the area and led to protests by local residents. Later that day, an unidentified man was allegedly beaten to death by an angry mob on suspicion of being involved in the crime.
