Kolkata, July 5 (IANS) Police have arrested one person in connection with the recovery of a minor girl’s body from a pond in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district, where she was allegedly raped and murdered.

Police said the person was detained on Sunday morning and was later arrested. A section of local residents alleged that the minor girl had been seen with the arrested person before she went missing on Saturday afternoon. The police are interrogating the accused.

A murder case has already been registered in connection with the incident. The victim’s family has alleged rape, although no case has been registered in that regard so far. Police sources said the decision to invoke rape charges will be taken after the autopsy report is received. Meanwhile, a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the Additional Superintendent of Police, has been constituted to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh said in a post on social media that party leader Mamata Banerjee wanted to visit Baruipur. However, he alleged that a large police force had been deployed outside her residence to “arrest” her. Kunal Ghosh claimed that the deployment would continue on Monday as well.

The girl’s family alleged that the 12-year-old was raped and murdered. Following the incident, a youth was allegedly beaten to death after being suspected of involvement in the crime. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called the girl’s father and assured him of all possible assistance. He also assured that appropriate action would be taken in the matter and asked the girl’s father to visit Bhabani Bhawan on Tuesday.

A six-member SIT has already been formed to investigate the incident. The team includes the Additional Superintendent of Police, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer and the Inspector-in-Charge of Baruipur Police Station.

It may be noted that protests over the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in the Baruipur area of South 24 Parganas district turned violent on Sunday afternoon after one of the accused died in a mob lynching. Baruipur remained in turmoil throughout the day.

Train services were suspended for an hour following a blockade on the Sealdah-Namkhana section. Road traffic was also disrupted for around five hours as protesters burnt tyres. In the ensuing violence, one of the accused was killed in a mob lynching.

When the police first reached the spot, the enraged mob pelted stones at them. The police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. IG (Presidency Range) Kankar Prosad Barui also assured that the guilty would not be spared.

According to the police, the 12-year-old girl had been missing since Saturday afternoon. Her body was recovered from a pond near her house on Sunday morning.

The incident took place at Suryapur Hat in Dhapadhap II Panchayat under the Baruipur police station area. The family alleged that she was raped and murdered. Following the incident, a section of local residents staged a protest by blocking the road with the minor’s body.

During the protest, there were allegations that a local youth was beaten to death. A section of local residents alleged that the deceased had been seen moving around with the suspect. Some claimed that he was one of the accused. Following the incident, the police reached the spot and a large police force was deployed.

Finally, the police recovered the girl’s body and sent it to Baruipur Sub-District Hospital. IG Kankar Prosad Barui said, “I will take the initiative and arrange for an autopsy of the deceased today.”

According to family sources, the girl had left home to buy food on Saturday afternoon and had remained untraceable thereafter. The family alleged that four people had abducted her. On Sunday morning, her body was found in a pond near the house. Following the recovery of the body, tension escalated in the area. Local residents surrounded the body, launched a protest and blocked the road. Suryapur railway station was also blocked.

It is alleged that the police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob. There were also allegations that a section of the protesters retaliated by pelting stones at the police. It was further alleged that several police personnel were injured in the incident. The situation gradually became more tense. Amid the unrest, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke to the deceased’s father over the phone. He assured him that appropriate action would be taken in the case and asked him to visit Bhabani Bhawan on Tuesday.

Eventually, by Sunday afternoon, the protesters lifted the road blockade following police intervention and dispersed from the station area. Train services resumed on the Namkhana-Sealdah section. The teenager’s body was recovered and taken to Baruipur Sub-Divisional Hospital. Police used public address systems to urge the protesters to remain calm.

IG (Presidency Range) Kankar Prosad Barui said, “Everyone involved in this incident will be arrested. I will strive to ensure they receive the death penalty. The Chief Minister called a short while ago; he has promised that no one involved in this case will be spared. We will take all necessary measures and are committed to providing every possible assistance.”

He added: “Please cooperate. I am ensuring that the post-mortem examination is conducted today. If necessary, I will personally go to the hospital to oversee the autopsy, ensuring it is video-graphed in the presence of a magistrate. I keep my word. I stand by you at all times. No one will escape justice.”

The deceased’s father told media persons, “I spoke with the Chief Minister. He has asked us to visit Bhabani Bhawan on Tuesday. He assured us that no culprit would be spared, promised that all our demands would be heard, and pledged every kind of assistance.”

–IANS

sch/pgh