A 23-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a 17-year-old schoolgirl was shot dead by police during a reconstruction of the crime scene, just two days after the teenager’s body was discovered.
Prahlad Das died in the early hours of Tuesday, October 27, in Bongaon, in West Bengal, India. According to police sources, Das allegedly snatched a police officer’s service revolver during the reconstruction, fired at officers and jumped into a pond in an attempt to escape. The incident reportedly took place between 3am and 3.30am. Police allegedly opened fire in self-defence. Das was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead.
Discovery of the teenager's body
His death came after the body of the 17-year-old girl was discovered behind a house in Gaighata, near the India-Bangladesh border, on Sunday morning. The teenager had reportedly gone missing on Saturday night after attending a music event near a local market. She lived with her maternal grandparents and had left the event after receiving a phone call, according to police.
Her family and neighbours searched for her throughout the night before local residents found her body in the backyard of a relative’s house. Preliminary findings indicated that the teenager had suffered multiple injuries, including marks on her head and face.
Investigation and motive
A post-mortem examination was ordered as part of the investigation. Das, who lived in Shimulpur in Gaighata and was reportedly known to the girl, had been arrested following a complaint from her family. A court in Bongaon had remanded him in police custody for 10 days on Sunday as investigators worked to establish what had happened to the teenager.
Police had formed a special investigation team led by the area’s additional superintendent of police, according to Bongaon Police District superintendent Bidisha Kalita Dasgupta. Investigators were also examining whether anyone else could have been involved in the alleged crime.
Public protests and security response
Police said preliminary questioning suggested Das allegedly resented the teenager over remarks she had made about his mother. However, investigators were still looking into the possible motive and whether others were involved. The allegations had not been tested in court before Das’s death.
The teenager’s death sparked protests in the area, prompting authorities to deploy a large police contingent, including Rapid Action Force and Combat Force personnel, to maintain order.
