A key suspect in the 11-year-old girl’s murder case was killed in a police encounter

A major development has emerged in the investigation into the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur, West Bengal. One of the key suspects in the case was killed during a police encounter early Wednesday, according to officials.

Police said the accused was being taken to the crime scene as part of the investigation to reconstruct the sequence of events. During the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to escape by snatching a firearm from a police officer and reportedly fired a shot.

Officials said police responded in self-defence, injuring the suspect during the exchange of fire. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Investigators have identified the deceased as one of the principal accused in the case. Police said CCTV footage allegedly showed him with the victim shortly before the girl went missing, making him a key figure in the investigation.

The incident has triggered widespread public outrage across the region. Shortly after the girl’s body was recovered, an individual suspected of involvement in the crime was reportedly assaulted and killed by a mob, highlighting heightened public anger over the case.

So far, police have arrested three suspects and constituted a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. Authorities said the probe is continuing to identify all those involved and establish the complete sequence of events.

Officials also said that the state government has sought a detailed report on the investigation within 72 hours.