Mon Sep 23 21:13:00 UTC 2024: ## Accused in Badlapur School Sexual Assault Case Shot Dead by Police: Opposition Demands Judicial Probe
**Thane, Maharashtra:** The accused in the Badlapur school sexual assault case, Akshay Shinde, was shot dead by police on Monday while being transported from Taloja Jail to Badlapur for further investigation. According to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde snatched a policeman’s gun and fired at an assistant inspector during the transit, prompting retaliatory fire from police officers.
However, the incident has sparked outrage and calls for a judicial probe from opposition parties. The Opposition alleges that the police action was suspicious and may have been an attempt to destroy evidence. They pointed to the lack of transparency surrounding the incident, questioning how Shinde could have managed to snatch a gun despite being handcuffed and how the police were so careless.
“Is it an attempt to destroy evidence?” questioned Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition in the assembly. “Were Akshay Shinde’s hands not tied by the police during the transit? How could he reach for the gun, and how come the police were so careless? We demand a judicial probe in this matter.”
Echoing similar concerns, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare drew parallels to the 2019 Telangana encounter case, where four rape accused were killed by police in similar circumstances. “Was Akshay Shinde killed as he was hiding something more sinister? Why is the school management still on the run?” she questioned.
In response to the allegations, Chief Minister Shinde dismissed the opposition’s claims as politically motivated and defended the police action, emphasizing that they were acting in self-defence.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar also demanded an in-depth inquiry into the incident, stating that while he believed Shinde should have been hanged according to legal provisions, the actions of the Home Department during his transfer were questionable.
Ujjwal Nikam, former public prosecutor in the case, said that while he could not rule out the possibility of Shinde attempting suicide, a judicial probe was necessary to reveal the truth.
The incident has further intensified the debate surrounding the use of lethal force by police and the accountability of law enforcement agencies. The demand for a judicial probe into the circumstances surrounding Shinde’s death remains a pressing issue, as the opposition vows to hold the state government accountable for any wrongdoing.
First Piper 