CM Suvendu defends encounter in Raiganj, says police entitled to retaliate in self-defence

Kolkata West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (November 9, 2026) defended the killing of a rape-murder accused in an exchange of fire with police in Uttar Dinajpur district’s Raiganj, pointing out that personnel of the force were entitled to retaliate in self-defence. Another ‘encounter’ in West Bengal: Rape-murder accused killed in Raiganj storyline 1 Talking to reporters in Digha in Purba Medinipur district, the Chief Minister said his government has given police considerable operational freedom in dealing with certain offences, including rape and murder, drug trafficking and illegal infiltration from Bangladesh.

His comments came hours after a man accused of raping and murdering his 13-year-old niece in Raiganj was killed in an exchange of fire with police. The accused, Dilip Roy, allegedly opened fire at a police team conducting a raid to arrest him in a village in Raiganj, police said.

An officer said police fired in retaliation, injuring the accused. He was taken to Raiganj Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead.