Badlapur Encounter: A Political Blame Game

The Badlapur encounter has sparked political tensions in Maharashtra, with the custodial death of a school sexual assault accused escalating the situation ahead of crucial Assembly elections. The police reported that Akshay Shinde was being transported from Taloja jail to Badlapur when he allegedly snatched Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More’s pistol and opened fire on the escorting police team, injuring three officers.

Shinde, who worked as a sweeper at the Badlapur school where he was accused of sexually assaulting two girls, was killed in the police’s retaliatory firing. Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh questioned the sequence of events, stating, “How could a handcuffed person fire a bullet?” He pointed out that the school involved is owned by a BJP leader, implying attempts to suppress the incident.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule labeled the situation an “absolute breakdown of the law enforcement and justice system” in Maharashtra, while Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan called it a “black day for Maharashtra Police.” Chavan asserted, “He was murdered in cold blood. Nobody will believe it was an encounter. I have demanded an inquiry from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”

Meanwhile, the accused’s parents questioned the police’s version, claiming Shinde was killed as part of a “big conspiracy.” His mother, Alka Shinde, expressed disbelief, stating, “My son was afraid of bursting crackers. How could he shoot at policemen?”

Accusing the Opposition of double standards, the ruling Mahayuti government noted that these same leaders had previously called for Shinde’s hanging. Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske remarked, “The opposition is playing politics. Did they inquire about the well-being of the policemen?”

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde argued that the opposition was rattled by the success of his government’s Ladki Bahin scheme, condemning their actions as “unfortunate.”

This incident triggered significant protests in Badlapur in August, following the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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