Shiv Sena and MNS jostle to honour cops involved in Badlapur ‘encounter’ killing

THANE: Both Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday announced cash rewards for the cops involved in the killing of the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault case, underscoring political one-upmanship in the wake of the incident.
The Sena on Tuesday was at the forefront of celebrations over the killing even as the opposition continued to raise questions about the circumstances surrounding the death of the accused.Sena's Kalyan chief Mahesh Gaikwad announced a reward of Rs 51,000 for Nilesh More, the assistant inspector who was injured in the alleged scuffle that led to the gunning down of the accused at close range. More is with the anti-narcotics cell of the Thane police.
Hours later, the MNS Thane and Palghar president Avinash Jadhav announced similar rewards for More and his colleague Sanjay Shinde who pulled the trigger on the accused. Jadhav said it was a "small gesture to boost the morale of the officers." He said the funds would be personally handed over by Sharmila Raj Thackeray.
With parties playing on popular sentiment, sweets were distributed in public at Badlapur, Kalyan and Dombivli and firecrackers were burst. Local politicians paid courtesy visits to the three cops who have been admitted in a private hospital. Sena representatives who visited them included Thane MP Naresh Mhaske, former MLC Manisha Kayande and former BMC corporator Sheetal Mhatre,
"The chief minister has directed us to extend our full support to you… it is nature's law that he (Akshay Shinde) got punished by God for his deeds…what you have done is in self-defence and the Shiv Sena is behind you with all its might," Mhaske told the recuperating senior inspector from Thane central crime branch, Sanjay Shinde, who shot dead the accused inside a van. Shinde was admitted to the hospital along with More after he complained of uneasiness.
Opposition parties and the family of the accused continue to raise questions about the death, claiming it was cold-blooded murder and demanding a probe. However, in Badlapur, the public mood was one of celebration, justifying the police action.
At Badlapur railway station, which was the scene of large-scale protests when news of the sexual assault came to light, many had demanded death for the accused. On Tuesday, sweets were distributed by passengers. Outside the station, a group which included Sena workers, held up placards to express support for chief minister Eknath Shinde and Thane police.
Locals were seen celebrating at different intersections in Badlapur town. One of the participants, Priyanka Damle, said, "After this incident, no one will dare to commit such a heinous act." Another resident Pooja Pansalkar said though the accused had confessed his crime, the people of Badlapur were apprehensive "whether we would get justice in this case. We are happy that the police have given us justice."
Sangeeta Chienvenkar, a representative of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, who had accompanied the family of one of the sexual assault victims last month when they approached the police, said, "Now the police should also arrest the chairman and secretary of the school and withdraw the case filed against the people of Badlapur for the protest."