“The police have killed our child."
Akshay Shinde, who was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two girls at a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, was shot dead by police.
This was after he allegedly snatched an officer’s weapon and opened fire during transport.
The incident occurred around 5:30 pm while Shinde was being transferred from Taloja Jail for further investigation.
As Shinde fired multiple rounds, two police officials – Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More and Inspector Sanjay Shinde – were injured in the exchange.
The critically injured Shinde was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The situation has sparked uproar, with the opposition criticising the incident as indicative of a breakdown in law and order.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the police, stating:
“It was this very opposition which said that the accused should be hanged… will the policemen protect themselves or not?”
In contrast, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accused the government of employing “shoot-and-scoot tactics”.
She highlighted that other co-accused individuals connected to the case remain at large.
Criticising the handling of the situation, she suggested that it was orchestrated by the state government.
Shinde’s family has described the incident as an “encounter”, claiming it was a conspiracy involving the police and the school management.
His mother and uncle strongly disputed the Badlapur police narrative, asserting that Shinde could not have taken a weapon from an officer.
They claimed Shinde had informed them he was being beaten in custody and had sent a note asking for money.
His mother stated: “The police have killed our child. The school management must also be probed.”
She described her last meeting with him, where he appeared fine and expressed hopes of being released soon:
“An hour later, they carried out an encounter on him.”
Shinde had been arrested on August 17 for the sexual assault of two girls, aged four and five, in a school toilet.
The incident incited severe public outrage and protests. Following significant public pressure, the Maharashtra government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to address the case.
The team recently filed charges against Shinde and members of the school management for negligence.
They were charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Bombay High Court has taken notice of the case as well.
It is overseeing the investigation amid growing concerns over the handling of serious allegations and the subsequent police response.
Loading ...