New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Opposition leaders, particularly the Trinamool Congress, on Wednesday lashed out at the ruling BJP government in West Bengal, accusing it of following the “Uttar Pradesh police pattern of encountering criminals”.

The reactions come following the death of an accused, the first of four arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old minor girl at Baruipur, in police encounter.

Speaking to IANS, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said: “People in the area are claiming that those arrested in the Baruipur case, are associated with the BJP and RSS. Now, one after another, they have been killed. One died in a mob attack, while another was killed in a police encounter that too during midnight.”

Questioning why the accused was taken out during midnight, he said: “A person who is in custody cannot be taken out between evening to morning.”

“Police are trying to kill the accused involved in the case so that they cannot make any statement, that they belong to the BJP. The present (Bengal) government is following the process of the Uttar Pradesh (BJP) government,” Banerjee alleged.

Echoing a similar view, Trinamool MP Saugata Roy said: “I strongly condemn the entire incident. The police have presented a fabricated story. This is the same explanation the police often give in encounter cases—that the accused was trying to escape and they had to open fire.”

“The truth is that the police have initiated a pattern of encounter killings here, similar to what has often been seen in Uttar Pradesh. We want the complete truth to be brought before the public, and the police personnel responsible should face the strictest possible punishment,” he asserted.

Referring to the crime against the minor girl as “tragic”, RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said: “Action should be taken against those accused. However, no government has the right to carry out an encounter. The court is there to punish him. He could be granted life imprisonment or even death penalty.”

Emphasising that encounters are against law, he urged: “Action should be taken following the due legal process.”

Criticising the BJP, West Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar pointed that the party had promised “zero tolerance” on crimes against women, before the Assembly polls and also that the state will transform into “Sonar Bangla” with a “double engine government”.

“Just like Hathras and Unnao incidents, the Baruipur case has been added to the list of crimes against women under the regime of a double engine government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bengal Minister Tapas Roy said: “The accused who was arrested, tried to escape during the investigation and attempted to snatch a police officer’s firearm, so what could the police do with such criminals? This sends a clear message that the West Bengal government has zero tolerance for crimes against women.”

“All those who were involved in the case will be given the strict punishment according to the law,” he told reporters.

–IANS

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