Akshay Shinde, accused in the Badlapur child sexual assault case, was killed in a police encounter on the Mumbra bypass in Thane district on Monday, said officers from Thane police.
According to senior officers, the accused was shot dead by the police in retaliation after he allegedly snatched a policeman’s pistol and fired at the escorting team in an attempt to escape custody.
Police reported that the accused fired a total of three rounds, injuring one police officer in the process. He was subsequently killed in the return fire from the police.
The accused, Akshay Shinde, who worked as a cleaner at the school, was being transported from Taloja jail to Badlapur for further investigation when the incident occurred.
The two minors were allegedly abused in the school toilet on August 12. The accused was arrested on August 17.
The Badlapur police were initially probing the case, but the Maharashtra government set up a special investigation team (SIT) following a public outcry over serious lapses in the police investigation. While the male attendant was arrested, the school’s chairman and secretary have not been apprehended yet.
Last month, the high court took suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the case and is supervising the investigation.
(With media inputs)