Badlapur sex abuse accused killed in police encounter: A timeline of events

Akshay Shinde, who sexually abused two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur, was shot dead in a police encounter after he snatched a gun from a policeman and opened fire. Here's a timeline of the events from the Badlapur incident to the encounter.

In Short

• Akshay Shinde sexually abuse 2 girls in Badlapur school toilet in August
• Protesters block railway tracks at Badlapur station over incident
• On Monday, Shinde snatched cop's gun, shot dead in police custody

Akshay Shinde, the prime accused who sexually abused two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur in Maharashtra's Thane district in August, died on Monday in a retaliatory firing after he snatched a policeman's gun and opened fire.

Shinde (23), a sweeper employed at the school, was arrested on August 17 for sexually abusing the two girls, aged four and five, in a school toilet, four days ago. The incident had triggered widespread protests with parents and other locals blocking railway lines at Badlapur railway station before the police removed them forcibly.

On Monday, Shinde was being taken from Taloja jail to Badlapur in connection with a case of unnatural sex filed by his former wife. According to the police, the accused snatched a weapon from an officer and opened fire while he was being transported from jail in a police vehicle. He was critically injured in the firing and later died in hospital.

The encounter triggered a war of words between the Maharashtra government and the Opposition. Here is a timeline of when the incident unfolded to Shinde's death in the encounter:

August 13: Two kindergarten girls were sexually abused in a school toilet by Shinde in Badlapur. Shinde was employed on a contractual basis on August 1.

August 16: The incident came to light when one of the victims narrated her ordeal to her parents.

August 17: Shinde was arrested by the police after the incident came to light.

August 20: 'Rail roko' protest at Badlapur railway station with hundreds of protesters blocking railway tracks hindering train operations. Police later removed the protesters from the site.

August 20: The ruling Mahayuti alliance suspended policeman who refused to initially file an FIR in the sexual abuse case. Later, three police officers were also suspended.

August 20: The Maharashtra government forms a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Badlapur incident.

August 20: People call for bandh. Parents and others protest and vandalise the school where the two girls were sexually abused. They later protested at the Badlapur railway station for over 10 hours, demanding that the accused be hanged in public.

August 21: The principal and two staffers working at Badlapur school were suspended.

August 22: The Bombay High Court took note of the case, questioning why no action was taken against the school.

August 22: SIT begins a probe into the case.

August 23: SIT adds Pocso sections against the school principal, secretary and chairman for not reporting the crime.

September 3: The Bombay High Court urged the Maharashtra government to sensitise boys to be able to build a safe environment for girls to grow in society. It made the judgment while hearing a plea in the Badlapur sexual assault case.

September 16: SIT filed its first chargesheet in the case, based on the complaint of one of the girls.

September 19: SIT filed its second chargesheet in the case, based on the second girl's complaint.

September 23: Shinde allegedly snatched a policeman's gun and started firing. He is killed by a police officer while being taken to Thane by a Crime Branch SIT in a police vehicle to probe another sexual assault case filed by his former wife.