Baruipur violence case: CPI(M) leader Lahek Ali arrested, party alleges political vendetta

Ali was arrested by the West Bengal Police after Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Santanu Mukhopadhyay took over as the investigating officer in the case.

Produced Before Court

Ali was produced before a court on Monday, where he alleged that his arrest was politically motivated and aimed at suppressing his protest.

The total number of arrests in connection with the violence has now risen to 34, according to reports.

Sujan Chakraborty Also Named

Senior CPI(M) leader and former Lok Sabha MP Sujan Chakraborty has also been named in the case, The Indian Express reported.

Reacting to Ali's arrest, Chakraborty alleged that the police action was politically driven.

"Lahek Ali was the CPI(M)'s candidate from the Baruipur Assembly constituency. His arrest is politically motivated. He had reached the spot only after the alleged lynching incident that the government is referring to.

"A fair investigation, along with media reports from the ground, will reveal the truth. The government is now fearful and is trying to create an atmosphere of intimidation by targeting political opponents," Chakraborty said.

A massive unrest and violence erupted in Baruipur which is located in the South 24 Parganas following the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in early July 2026.

The girl's body was recovered a day after she went missing, triggering widespread outrage among local residents.

Protesters blocked roads and railway tracks, demanding swift justice and stricter action against the accused.

The situation escalated when an angry mob lynched a local man on suspicion of being involved in the crime.

Police later stated that the victim was not connected to the rape-murder case, prompting a separate investigation into the lynching.

Violence intensified as protesters clashed with police, damaged public property and allegedly attacked security personnel.

A heavy police deployment followed, and several people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the unrest.

The case took another dramatic turn when one of the accused in the rape-murder case was killed in a police encounter during crime scene reconstruction.

The incident has since become one of West Bengal's most significant law-and-order controversies, with multiple investigations continuing into the alleged rape and murder, the mob lynching, the police encounter and the subsequent violence.