The deceased, identified as Dilip Roy, was a prime accused in the case. Police said he had been on the run since investigators recovered the mutilated body of the minor on November 5.
According to police officials, a team moved to arrest Roy at around 3.30 am on Monday in the Gauri village area, where he was allegedly trying to cross into Bihar.
When officers reached the spot, Roy opened fire at them, prompting retaliatory firing.
Roy sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire. Police took him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body was subsequently sent for a post-mortem examination.
Minor's body found in Kulik Wildlife Sanctuary
Police said the 13-year-old girl went missing on November 3.
Two days later, investigators recovered her mutilated body from the Kulik Wildlife Sanctuary in Raiganj.
Following a preliminary investigation, the victim's parents lodged a complaint alleging rape and murder at Raiganj police station.
Police then launched a search for those suspected of involvement in the crime, including Roy.
Investigators identified Roy as a prime accused, but he had reportedly been evading arrest until the early hours of Monday, when the police operation ended in a gunfight.
Minister defends police action
Reacting to the encounter, Panchayat Minister Dilip Ghosh said the police had a duty to act when accused persons attempted to escape or evade the law.
“Such crimes will not be spared. If everyone follows the law and order, nothing will happen. But police have a duty to act if accused individuals attempt to evade the law or escape,” he said.
The incident is the latest in a series of encounters involving people accused of serious crimes in West Bengal since the BJP government assumed office.
Fourth 'encounter' in four months
The Raiganj encounter comes 13 days after two other accused persons were shot dead in separate police encounters in the state, reportedly within a span of around 12 hours.
Samaul Sheikh, a key accused in the August 28 murder of BJP worker Sujit Mondal, was shot dead during a gunfight with police in Murshidabad at around 3 pm on October 27.
Earlier that day, at approximately 3:30 am, Prahlad Das, who was accused of raping and murdering a minor girl in Gaighata in North 24 Parganas district, was also killed in a police encounter.
The two incidents were reported on October 28, although the dates given for the encounters were October 27.
July 'encounter' in Baruipur
Another police encounter took place on July 8 in the Baruipur area of South 24 Parganas district.
Police had taken Prabhas Mondal, the prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl, to the location to reconstruct the crime when the encounter occurred.
Tension had gripped the area since July 5, when authorities recovered the body of the 12-year-old girl from a pond. She had allegedly been raped and murdered.
CM's warning over crimes against women
Monday's encounter also follows a warning issued by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on November 3.
He had said criminals would not be spared if they harmed women in the state.
“You all are seeing what is happening when someone lays hands on our mothers and sisters,” Adhikari had said.
The Raiganj incident is the fourth police encounter reported in West Bengal over the past four months, following the incidents in Baruipur, Gaighata and Murshidabad.