Malda: A rape-murder accused in Raiganj, North Dinajpur, was on Monday shot dead by police while trying to escape, marking the fourth encounter death in Bengal since BJP came to office.Dilip Roy, a mason, had gone missing after the mutilated body of a 13-year-old was recovered on Nov 5 in Kulik forest of Abdul Ghata Bandh. She had left home on a bicycle two days before but never returned. Roy, a relative of the victim, had even accompanied the girl’s family to the police outpost and took part in the search and threatened a road block demanding her rescue.An autopsy of the body confirmed rape and murder and police zeroed in on Roy after CCTV footage showed him riding the girl’s bicycle. On Nov 6, investigators recovered the bicycle at a scrap dealer’s shop in Karnajora, where CCTV footage again confirmed Roy’s presence. When police visited his home, they learnt he was missing since Nov 4. Investigators subsequently tracked his movements through cell tower locations across Itahar, Raiganj and adjoining areas of Bihar.Acting on a tip-off around 2 am on Monday, a police team cordoned off his hideout in Pararpukur, Gauri village, near Bengal-Bihar border. Cops claimed when they tried to arrest him at around 3.30 am, he tried to escape and opened fire from a 9 mm pistol, puncturing a tyre of a police vehicle. They retaliated in self-defence, injuring him. He was rushed to Raiganj Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead. No police personnel were injured.A district police officer said Roy’s ancestral home was in Jharkhand and he was trying to flee to Bihar. “We are investigating from where he procured the sophisticated 9 mm pistol. The question is whether he procured the pistol after committing the rape-and-murder or it was in his possession before that.”Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari defended the police action, saying, “Will police offer rasgullas to attackers? Police also have the right to defend themselves. Will police keep their guns in their pockets?”Adhikari added, “There are three categories of cases where police have been given the freedom to act and do not need to seek permission from their superiors. There will be zero tolerance in cases involving rapists and murderers, drug traffickers and Bangladeshi infiltrators.”Roy had at least two prior complaints of sexual abuse against him, one involving a minor who was rescued alive from Shialmoni area inside Kulik forest. In both instances, the matters were settled by local arbitration meetings (salishi sabha), allowing Roy to avoid police action.The victim’s father thanked the police administration for “quick action”. “They had mentioned a three-day timeframe, and within those three days, they carried out the encounter,” he said.Roy’s mother, Chaniya, said she had no regrets over his death. “He never looked after me. Instead, his deeds brought us shame. I’ve heard he was killed by police, but I have no regret. I will not bring his body home.”
