Madan Mitra Targets BJP Over Gaighata Police Encounter

Democratic Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra on Tuesday criticised the BJP while reacting to the police encounter in the alleged kidnapping, rape and murder case of a 17-year-old girl in Gaighata, North 24 Parganas.

The accused, identified in reports as Prahlad Das, was killed during a police operation while being taken for reconstruction of the crime scene. Police said he allegedly snatched a service revolver, opened fire and was shot in retaliatory firing.

‘BJP Is a Party of Encounters,’ Says Mitra

Reacting to the incident in Kolkata, Mitra alleged that the BJP had normalised what he described as “encounter politics”.

He said:

“The BJP is not, in reality, a political party at all. It is a party of encounters.”

Mitra compared the situation with Uttar Pradesh and claimed that similar developments were now taking place in West Bengal.

His comments are political allegations and reflect his position; they do not establish that the BJP directed or controlled the police encounter.

#WATCH | Kolkata: Democratic Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra says, Alleged kidnapping, rape, and murder case of a 17-year-old girl student in Gaighata, North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) | On Police encounter of the accused, Democratic Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra says, "The BJP is not, in reality, a political party at all. It is a party of encounters... As you have been witnessing in UP for a long time, the same thing is now happening in Bengal... Every day, their party president and top leaders claim that theirs is a well-trained, wonderful, and highly disciplined party—that they do not harbor bad elements or support criminals... Because of these internal clashes, our state is going to be completely ruined."

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026

Accused Killed During Crime Scene Reconstruction

According to police accounts, the accused had been arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the Class 11 student.

During reconstruction of the crime scene late Monday night, police said he allegedly took a service weapon from an officer and fired at personnel before trying to escape. Police then opened fire, and he was later declared dead at hospital.

Police have also said the circumstances surrounding how the accused obtained the firearm and the sequence of events leading to the firing are likely to be examined.

Girl’s Body Recovered in Gaighata

The case began after the body of the 17-year-old student was recovered in Gaighata on Sunday morning after she had gone missing the previous night.

Police registered a case following a complaint from the family and arrested the accused as part of the investigation.

Madan Mitra Raises Wider Political Concerns

Mitra also alleged that internal political clashes and what he described as the growing use of encounter methods were damaging the state.

He questioned claims by BJP leaders that the party was disciplined and free from criminal elements, and warned that such confrontations could further worsen the political climate in West Bengal.

The Madan Mitra Gaighata encounter remarks add a political dimension to a case that has already triggered protests and heightened security in parts of North 24 Parganas.