The killing of Indrajit Mandal, a young man beaten to death by an agitated mob in Suryapur, Baruipur, was not a case of spontaneous mob lynching but a “premeditated and motivated murder,” Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Saturday after meeting the victim’s family. Indrajit was attacked by a mob that suspected him of involvement in the rape and murder of a minor girl.
Adhikari alleged that the incident was far more sinister, claiming it may have involved a larger conspiracy. “The way a 35-year-old unmarried man was beaten to death after having his hands and feet tied — based on his identity — shows this was not an ordinary mob lynching but a cold-blooded murder,” he said.
He then said that the violence could have been incited by political forces defeated in recent elections and hinted at the possible involvement of “extremists, fundamentalists, or ultra-left groups.”
According to Adhikari, several of the accused have been identified through video footage and photographs. Police have already rounded up suspects from coastal areas such as Digha and Bakkhali, with a total of 38 arrests made so far.
“There will be no compromise or leniency towards those involved in this heinous crime,” he said.
The state government has also extended support to Mandal’s family. A compensation of Rs 25 lakh has been provided, while his elder brother, Bapi Mandal, has been offered employment as a civic volunteer at the local Suryapur police outpost. The family’s damaged home has been repaired at government expense, and additional welfare measures — including an old-age pension for his father and social security support for his mother under the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ scheme — have been ensured.
The incident is linked to the shocking rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur earlier this month. The girl had gone missing on July 4, and her body was recovered from a pond the following day. Police have arrested four persons in connection with the case so far. The prime accused, Prabhas Mondal, was killed in a police encounter earlier this week.
Following the recovery of the minor’s body, widespread anger erupted in the Suryapur area, leading to protests and road blockades. Amid the unrest, Mandal — an auto-rickshaw driver— was assaulted by a mob acting on suspicion and misinformation, leading to his death. Adhikari reiterated that Mandal was innocent and assured that those responsible for his killing would face strict punishment.
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