Mon Sep 23 17:27:56 UTC 2024: ## Controversy Erupts After Accused Rapist’s Death in Police Firing
The death of Akshay Shinde, accused of raping two four-year-old girls in Badlapur, Maharashtra, during police transit has sparked a political storm ahead of the state assembly elections.
Shinde was killed in retaliatory firing after he allegedly snatched a constable’s gun and opened fire while being transferred from Taloja jail to the Thane police station, according to police. However, the opposition has questioned the police’s narrative, alleging it was an “encounter” and demanding a judicial probe.
Opposition leaders have criticized the police’s handling of the case, pointing to inconsistencies in the account of how a handcuffed man could seize a gun. They also questioned the lack of action against the BJP-linked school management, while the accused was killed under suspicious circumstances.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde defended the police action, stating it was self-defense. He dismissed opposition allegations of political motives, attributing them to the success of his government’s “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin” scheme.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, echoed the Chief Minister’s statement, emphasizing the police’s efforts to save lives. He criticized the opposition’s earlier demand for Shinde’s hanging, highlighting the hypocrisy of their current stance.
Opposition leaders, however, remain unconvinced. Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar highlighted inconsistencies in the police’s account and accused them of attempting to destroy evidence. He questioned the lack of action against the school management and demanded a judicial probe.
Sharad Pawar, NCP leader, questioned the laxity of the Home Department in transferring the accused, suggesting a lack of government competence.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare drew parallels to the 2019 Telangana case, where four rape accused were killed in a police encounter, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the police narrative in the Badlapur case. She also questioned the continued absconding of the school management.
The controversy surrounding the death of Akshay Shinde is likely to continue to escalate, adding fuel to the already heated political atmosphere in Maharashtra leading up to the upcoming assembly elections.
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