Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], September 25 : The Maharashtra opposition parties continue to corner the state government over the encounter of Badlapur rape accused Akshay Shinde. Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh claimed on Wednesday that he had found out from police officers that that it was difficult to operate a policeman's gun.
Akshay Shinde was being brought from Taloja Central Jail to Thane Crime branch office under transit remand when he allegedly opened fire on the police after snatching their revolver near the Mumbra bypass, he was then killed in retaliatory fire by the cops.
Speaking to ANI, Deshmukh said "I had inquired about how one can open fire using a policeman's gun. On inquiry, I found out that it is really difficult for a common man to open fire from a gun without having the technical knowledge and proper training. The whole matter is suspicious. The owner of the Badlapur school where the incident occurred is a BJP member. From the very first day, the BJP has been trying to save them."
Further, Deshmukh alleged that the police had failed to file an FIR in the matter of the sexual assault on the two minors for three days.
"The public came to know about the matter but the victim's parents were made to wait for three days before the FIR was filed, and then the CCTV camera footage of the school was missing. The day when the accused was being taken to the Badlapur Jail, the routes were changed. From the very first day, the matter has seemed suspicious. Who is the main accused, Akshay Shinde or the school owner? People are still confused. A proper inquiry needs to be taken to find out the accused."
Deshmukh also said that the law passed by the Aghadi government during his tenure as the home minister that had a provision for death penalty of rape accused and the provision of a fast track court to ensure a verdict in 21 days is pending in the court.
"When I was the Home Minister, we had brought a law that if a female is sexually harassed, the accused would be hanged in 21 days. The law is still pending in the court and has not been approved. I request them to pass the law as soon as possible. The posters being circulated are just to deceive the people," he added.
Badlapur rape accused Akshay Shinde's death has sparked a war of words between the ruling Mahayuti government and the opposition in Maharashtra which is headed for Assembly polls later this year.