Tensions erupt in Indian state after 11-year-old raped and murdered

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Tensions erupt in Indian state after 11-year-old raped and murderedImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A protest in Kolkata against the rape and murder of the 11-year-old in BaruipurByGeeta Pandey and Pratyush RoyPublished8 hours agoThe Indian state of West Bengal has been on the boil for the past few days over the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl. The body of the child was fished out from a pond on Sunday - a day after her family reported her missing. The incident in Surjyapur village in Baruipur, on the outskirts of Kolkata, has triggered days of violent protests, a mob lynching of an innocent man and the police killing of one of the suspects.

Three other men who have been arrested remain in custody. Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing. The child's rape and murder - and the subsequent killing of the suspect - has snowballed into a huge political row, with the opposition parties accusing the state's newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of failing to protect women.

The Details

Image source, PTIImage caption, Baruipur saw violent protests after the girl's body was foundFamily members of the girl said they last saw her on Saturday afternoon when she went out to buy a birthday gift for a friend. When she didn't return home, they went to the police station at around 20:30 to seek help in finding her. The family and villagers alleged that the police did not take their pleas seriously and said they would look into it the next day.

Desperate family members and villagers then themselves looked through the CCTV footage from nearby shops and spotted her walking with Prabhash Mondal - a local man who has since been killed by the police. Early Sunday morning, a mob went to Mondal's house, caught him and handed him over to the police. A few hours later, a sack containing the girl's body was pulled out from the pond, with media reports saying Mondal had led the police to the exact spot.

According to the post-mortem report, the cause of death is drowning, leading to claims that she was alive when she was dumped in the pond. "Had the police acted earlier, she could have been saved," her relatives have said. The police complaint has since been amended to include charges under the Pocso, India's stringent law on child sexual abuse.

What Experts Say

The police have yet to hold a press conference on the case or respond to the allegations. The government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to inquire into the case. Image source, ANIImage caption, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met the victim's family and assured them of justiceThe recovery of the body saw anger pour out onto the streets, with a mob vandalising roads, shops and a local railway station.

A young man was beaten to death by the crowd - Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has since said he was innocent. Several police officers were injured and vehicles damaged as they tried to contain the mob. Police have registered three cases and detained 40 people so far.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.