Badlapur rape accused shot in head, died of bleeding: Autopsy
Akshay Shinde, the prime suspect in the sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls at a school in Maharashtra's Badlapur, died from a gunshot wound to the head while in police custody. The initial post-mortem report revealed that Shinde succumbed to blood loss following the shooting. A team of five doctors conducted an extensive seven-hour autopsy on Shinde's body at JJ Hospital, with videography for record-keeping.
Circumstances of Shinde's death under scrutiny
The circumstances surrounding Shinde's death have come under scrutiny. On Monday, police reported that the 23-year-old snatched a pistol from Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh More and fired at the escorting police team, injuring three officers. He was subsequently killed in retaliatory firing by police. The incident occurred while Shinde was being transported from Taloja jail to Badlapur for a case of unnatural sex filed by his former wife.
High court questions police over Shinde's custodial death
The Bombay High Court has expressed concerns over the Mumbai Police's handling of Shinde's case, suggesting possible foul play and stating that the incident could not be "termed an encounter." The court has also instructed police to preserve CCTV footage from when Shinde was taken out of jail until his death at Shivaji Hospital. These directives were issued during a hearing for a petition filed by Shinde's father—Anna Shinde—who is seeking an investigation into his son's "fake encounter" death.
Shinde's arrest
Shinde, a school sweeper, was arrested on August 17 for sexually abusing two girls aged three and four in a school toilet. The incident sparked widespread protests with parents and locals blocking railway lines at Badlapur railway station. Following his death, some locals celebrated by distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers, displaying banners stating "rapists will not be spared."
Shinde's mother alleges conspiracy, SIT investigates
To recall, Shinde's mother, Alka Shinde, has disputed the Thane police's account of events. She alleges that her son's killing was orchestrated and carried out under the influence of some political leaders. In response to these allegations, the Maharashtra government has appointed a Special Investigative Team (SIT) led by senior IPS officer Arti Singh to expedite the investigation into this case.
