newspop
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has sparked fresh political debate over the killing of 26-year-old Indrajit Mondal, saying the incident should not be described as a lynching because the victim was allegedly singled out and deliberately attacked by a violent mob during the Baruipur clashes.
The violence erupted after widespread outrage over the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl, with protests spiralling into large-scale unrest in parts of Baruipur.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Adhikari claimed Mondal was specifically identified before being assaulted, arguing that the nature of the attack distinguished it from a random mob lynching. He further alleged that the violence was part of a broader conspiracy aimed at disrupting law and order in West Bengal at a time when the state was moving ahead with development initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The Chief Minister also suggested that politically marginalised elements, along with possible radical and ultra-left groups, could have played a role in fuelling the unrest. He said investigators are not only tracking those directly involved in the violence but are also probing individuals suspected of orchestrating the clashes from behind the scenes.
According to the state government, police had repeatedly appealed to protesters to remain peaceful while assuring swift action in the minor girl’s murder case. However, the demonstrations allegedly turned violent, with stones thrown at police personnel and Central Armed Police Forces. Several officers, including women personnel, were reportedly injured during the clashes.
Police have now intensified investigations into both the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl and the mob attack that claimed Indrajit Mondal’s life.
Authorities are examining the sequence of events, identifying those involved in the assault, and investigating whether the violence was part of a pre-planned conspiracy.
