'Crack Eggs on These Intellectuals': Dilip Ghosh's Remark Fuels Bengal Political Row After Baruipur Encounter
A controversial remark by senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has intensified the political battle in West Bengal following the police encounter in which the main accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Baruipur was killed. The encounter has sharply divided political parties, with the BJP defending the police action while the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress and CPI(M) have questioned its legality.
The controversy stems from Tuesday's encounter in which Prabhash Mondal, one of the four accused in the case, was killed during a crime scene reconstruction. According to the police, Mondal allegedly attempted to snatch a firearm from an officer and tried to escape, prompting retaliatory action. The case had sparked statewide outrage after the victim's body was recovered from a pond, allegedly stuffed inside a sack.
Amid the growing debate, Dilip Ghosh lashed out at those questioning the encounter and accused certain intellectuals and Left-leaning groups of consistently defending criminals.
"Whenever crime has risen in society, these Communists and intellectuals have stood behind the criminals. They protest when a crime occurs, and then they protest again when the criminal is punished," Ghosh said while speaking to reporters.
Escalating his criticism, the BJP leader added, "Do not waste eggs just anywhere; crack them on the heads of these intellectuals. Make it clear that they are anti-social. The criminal and those who support criminals should receive equal treatment."
The BJP has projected the encounter as proof of its tough approach towards crimes against women. Party leaders maintained that criminals involved in such offences would not be spared. BJP leaders, including state president Samik Bhattacharya and spokesperson Debjit Sarkar, defended the police action, describing it as evidence of the government's commitment to strict law enforcement.
However, the encounter has drawn strong criticism from opposition parties. TMC MP Mahua Moitra questioned the police version and compared the incident to what she described as the "Uttar Pradesh model", alleging that the state was moving towards "jungle law". Senior TMC leader Saugata Roy also sought greater police accountability over the incident.
At the same time, differences emerged within the TMC, with the party's rebel faction backing the police action. MLA Shiuli Saha argued that the law permits police to respond if an accused attacks officers while attempting to flee.
The Congress also called for a fair investigation into the encounter, stating that public anger over a horrific crime cannot replace due legal process. State Congress leaders demanded an independent inquiry, while veteran CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya alleged that the encounter was pre-planned and claimed the accused may have been killed before revealing the complete facts of the case.
The encounter continues to trigger a fierce political confrontation in West Bengal, with questions over policing, justice and accountability dominating the debate as investigations into the Baruipur case continue.
