Gaighata (North 24 Parganas): Prahlad Das, arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in Gaighata, died after being shot in an exchange of fire with police late on Monday night. The incident occurred while officers were taking him to reconstruct the sequence of events connected to the case.
Police sources said Das grabbed a weapon from one of the escorting personnel and opened fire. In response, the accompanying officers shot him, inflicting critical injuries. He was rushed to a government hospital nearby, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The state police had not released a formal statement on the circumstances of the firing till Tuesday morning. Officials are expected to clarify the sequence of events and the findings of the preliminary inquiry, as reported by The Statesman.
Family Rushes To Hospital
As word of Das’s death spread on Tuesday, his relatives reached the hospital where he had been declared dead. The development heightened tension in the locality, prompting authorities to deploy a strong police force around the facility.
Police said the deployment was intended to maintain order and prevent any escalation. Das was reportedly related to the victim and had been questioned after her family named him in their complaint. He was later formally arrested in the case.
Girl Found Dead After Night Out
The case came to light after the teenager’s body was recovered on Sunday morning close to a relative’s residence in Gaighata. Her family said she had gone out on the night of October 24 with relatives and friends to attend a musical event near their home, which continued well past midnight.
According to the family’s account, the girl received a call on her mobile phone around midnight. She then left the venue alone and failed to return. Her relatives searched for her through the night, but could not trace her.
Her body was discovered the following morning near the relative’s house. The family alleged that she had been sexually assaulted and killed, and filed a complaint based on which police began questioning Das before placing him under arrest.