An 11-year-old girl in West Bengal was raped and murdered, sparking violent protests and a political crisis for the state's new BJP government.
The girl disappeared on Saturday while shopping. Her family alleges police were initially dismissive of their pleas for help. A local man, Prabhash Mondal, was later identified via CCTV and handed to police by a mob.
The girl's body was recovered from a pond. The post-mortem report indicates death by drowning, suggesting she was alive when discarded.
Public anger boiled over into widespread vandalism. A young man was beaten to death by a mob; Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated the victim was innocent.
The case has become politically charged. The BJP government, which campaigned on women's safety, faces a direct challenge. The situation risks taking on religious overtones as the victim was Muslim and the accused are Hindu.
Chief Minister Adhikari met the grieving family. Less than 24 hours later, Prabhash Mondal was killed in what police termed an "encounter," claiming he tried to snatch a weapon during a crime scene recreation.
The killing has drawn sharp criticism from opposition politicians and rights activists who question its legality, calling it suspicious and reminiscent of other extrajudicial police actions.