Kolkata: Tucked away from the railway tracks adjacent to Surjapur railway station, a 30-metre gap separate the area of the ‘encounter’ that led to the death of Prabash Mondal, a key accused in the minor’s rape and murder, and the spot of the grisly crime.Mondal was taken to the place in the wee hours of Wednesday for reconstruction of the incident when the accused managed to get a police officer’s service revolver and fired before being shot by another cop.Hours after the encounter, TOI found that cops drew “police line” with yellow tapes to cordon off the encounter and incident areas beside railway tracks. Pillar 5 located between Surjapur railway station and rail gate led to the place nestled in ponds and guava and karamcha (Bengal currants or carissa carandas) orchids.It was due to rain that the winding way amidst thorny bushes, bamboo trees and orchids turned muddy and inaccessible. Local sources stated that “anti-socials” frequented the place after sunset for drinking and consuming drugs. There is lack of walkable path as such and some fruit sellers from the nearby villages “crawl” to the orchids during daytime to pluck guavas and karamchas sold in local markets.“We are shocked that a minor girl was taken deeper inside, raped and killed. Though it’s a den of anti-socials, but such crime never took place there earlier,” said a vendor at Surjapur railway station. Locals from the neighbouring areas, especially Surjapur and Alipore villages flocked to a place beside the railway tracks, trying to catch glimpses of the place where the encounter occurred.Kamalesh Das, a local said, “We are happy that Mondal was killed in the encounter, and at the same time, others, if their involvement in the crime, is established, should also be sentenced to death. I request the administration to make this place secure for us by keeping away the criminals, who turn it into their den.”Another woman, who is also teacher of a local school rued, “Ask me what did not happen here. Walking along the narrow path beside the railway tracks is very unsafe after sunset when these anti-socials used to flock here. I have witnessed offences like gambling, drinking and consumption of contrabands at this place and the rape and murder of a child was the most shocking thing that ever happened here since I have been living here for at least three decades. I am still unable to come to terms with the shock.”
