KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister on Saturday alleged that "radical communal forces" or those rejected in elections could have been behind the violence that erupted in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas following the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl on July 5.
The chief minister visited Baruipur and met the families of both the minor victim and Indrajit Mondal, who was beaten to death after the girl's body was recovered from Surjapur Haat.
Adhikari alleged that communal radical forces or those rejected by the electorate could have played a role in the unrest that followed the recovery of the girl's body, which was found stuffed in a sack in a pond.
He also refused to describe Indrajit's killing as a lynching, claiming his identity had been established before the "murder".
During the visit, the chief minister handed over an appointment letter for the post of civic volunteer to Indrajit's elder brother and a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to his parents.
Earlier, he met the victim's parents at their residence and assured them of all possible assistance.
The Chief Minister had earlier maintained that Mondal, an auto-rickshaw driver, was innocent and said those responsible for his killing would face murder charges. Five people have so far been arrested in connection with the case.
"Those rejected in elections could have instigated the violence. Also, I am not writing off the presence of communal radical forces. Investigation will uncover the truth, and action will be taken against everyone involved," he said.
Adhikari added that those identified through photographs or video footage had already been arrested.
Indrajit's elder brother, Bapi Mondal, said, "The chief minister has assured us of all help. gave me the appointment letter and asked me to join the job. This is an appointment letter for a civic volunteer at the Baruipur Police District."
"The family had named four persons in their complaint, and all four have been arrested. Those found guilty will get exemplary punishment," the chief minister said after meeting the parents of the minor victim.
Suvendu Adhikari also inaugurated the newly established Surjapur Rural Police Outpost under the Baruipur Police District during his visit.
The body of the girl, who had gone missing on July 4, was found stuffed in a sack in the Surjapur Haat area the following day, triggering protests by locals. Demonstrators blocked the Baruipur-Joynagar Road, burnt tyres and damaged police vehicles, demanding the arrest of those responsible.
Hours after the body was recovered, Indrajit Mondal was beaten to death by an angry mob on suspicion of involvement in the alleged rape and murder.
Four people were arrested in the rape-murder case. One of them, Prabash Mondal, was killed in a police encounter after he allegedly tried to snatch a police officer's weapon while being taken to the spot for reconstruction of the crime scene late on Tuesday night.