Three individuals have been taken into custody following the horrific rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur, near Kolkata. The victim’s body was discovered in a local pond on Sunday, one day after she vanished while out to purchase a gift. Authorities have formed a special investigation team (SIT) to oversee the case, filing charges including gangrape, conspiracy, and destruction of evidence. Amidst the ongoing investigation, a fourth suspect was killed by an angry mob, and the victim’s mother has publicly called for capital punishment, lamenting that a swifter police response when she first filed a missing person report might have saved her daughter's life.

The discovery of the crime has ignited intense public fury, leading to widespread protests throughout Kolkata. Demonstrators have blocked roads and railway lines, with reports of vandalized police vehicles and burning tires. Tensions have further escalated due to allegations that local political figures may have aided in the suspects' escape, prompting authorities to issue prohibitory orders against public gatherings. Meanwhile, the political landscape remains volatile; Mamata Banerjee led a candlelight vigil in protest, sparking a heated war of words with the current administration over their handling of the tragedy and a perceived lack of empathy toward the grieving family.