Akshay Shinde, accused of raping two girls in a school on August 12-13 in Badlapur, Maharashtra, died in police firing on September 23. The Maharashtra government said the accused snatched the policeman's revolver while he was being taken for questioning and fired at the police. The police fired at him in self-defence.
According to the police, the ex-wife of the 24-year-old accused had lodged an FIR against him. In this case, the police took him from Taloja Jail to Badlapur at 5.30 pm for investigation. While returning, the police vehicle was at Thane's Mumbra Bypass between 6 pm and 6:15 pm.
The accused then snatched the revolver from the waist of Assistant Police Inspector (API) Nilesh More and fired 3 rounds. In which API More was shot in the leg. Then another policeman shot at the accused. API More and Shinde were rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared Shinde brought dead.
However, the accused's family has claimed his encounter. Akshay's mother and uncle said it was a conspiracy by the police and the Badlapur school management. Police beat him a lot in jail. He was killed to suppress the matter. We will not take his dead body.
Photo of accused Akshay Shinde after the encounter.
Statement from government and family on death of Akshay Shinde
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde: Akshay Shinde's ex-wife has filed a sexual harassment case against him. The police took him for investigation. In the meantime, he fired at policeman Nilesh More, who was injured. The police took this action in self-defense. More information will come out after investigation.
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis: Police were taking Akshay Shinde for investigation with a warrant. He grabbed the police pistol. He fired at the police personnel and also fired in the air. The police fired at him in self-defence. The opposition questions everything. The same protest was demanding hanging of the accused. If he had attacked the police, wouldn't the police have acted in self-defence? It is wrong to raise any issue about this.
Accused's family: Akshay told us that he was beaten up in police custody and also sent a chit to remit the money. The police also forced him to write something, but we don't know what it is. Akshay was afraid of bursting crackers and crossing the road. Then how can someone shoot at policemen?
Policemen stationed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital after the death of the accused in the Badlapur case.
Reaction of the opposition on the death of the accused
NCP (Sharad Group) MP Supriya Sule- Mahayuti government's stance on sexual harassment of two minor girls in Badlapur is shocking. First there was a delay in registering the FIR and now the prime accused has been killed in custody. This is a total collapse of law enforcement and the justice system.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi- The accused is dead, and the other co-accused under POCSO, who was a school board member and a BJP worker, are still absconding. The shoot and run strategy of an incompetent government is a highly questionable matter. It will soon be heard that no one has sexually molested 6-year-old girls. Maintained, sponsored and run by the state government.
Congress State President Nana Patole- This incident has raised some serious questions. School trustee not arrested yet in Badlapur atrocity case, he is absconding why not arrested yet? Is there an attempt to end the case by encountering the main accused to save the absconding accused? Did the police encounter the accused in an attempt to suppress the whole matter? There should be an inquiry by High Court judges to bring out the truth in this matter.
Akshay joined the school on 1st August, he was sexually assaulted on 12-13th August Accused of raping girls, Akshay Shinde was working as a cleaner in the school. He was appointed on contract on 1st August. On August 12 and 13, he sexually assaulted two girls, ages 3 and 4, studying in kindergarten in the school's girls' toilet.
After the incident, both the girls were afraid to go to school. The girl's parents got suspicious and questioned their daughter. After this the girl told the whole thing. The girl's parents then spoke to the other girl's parents. After this, a medical test was conducted on both the girls, in which sexual abuse was revealed.
The accused, who was arrested on August 17, was called Dada by the girls Police interrogation revealed that the girl used to call the accused as Dada (big brother in Marathi). According to the girl, 'Dada' opened her clothes and touched her inappropriately. There were no women employees in the school where the incident took place.
When the families of both the girls reached the police station to file a case, the police also delayed registering the FIR. The victim's family sought help from social workers. Two days later, on August 16, late at night, the police filed a complaint. The police arrested the accused on August 17.
People stopped trains, pelted stones on police
On August 20, the protesters broke open the main gate of the school and vandalized it.
A crowd demonstrated at Badlapur station from 8 am to 6 pm on August 20 regarding the incident. The movement of local trains was stopped for more than 10 hours. In the evening, the police vacated the railway track by baton charge. The crowd then pelted stones at the police.
Cabinet minister Girish Mahajan reached Badlapur station to talk to the protesters, but had to turn back. After this, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of SIT. Apart from this, the government said that the case will be tried in a fast track court.
The state government suspended three policemen including a woman police inspector of Badlapur police station for delay in registering the case. Apart from this, some school staff including the principal were also suspended.
The Child Commission said the school administration tried to suppress the matter Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Susieben Shah alleged that the school hid the crime instead of helping the girls' parents. Had the school taken notice and lodged a complaint in time, the chaotic situation could have been avoided. The commission has handed over the report to CM Eknath Shinde regarding this matter.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
