‘Give our cops better weapons’

The family of slain CST railway police inspector Shashank Shinde is still coming to terms with his death

Mateen Hafeez | TNN

Mumbai: “Had my father been given a proper gun, he would have killed the two terrorists,’’ said Aditi (19), daughter of slain CST railway police inspector Shashank Shinde, one of the few policemen who actually fired at the terrorists.

Aditi, a second-year computer engineering student at a Nerul college, finds it difficult to talk about her father. “He went on the night duty for the third consecutive day and we were together a day before to attend a wedding.

At the Shinde residence in Jupiter (Dosti Acres), Wadala, a framed photograph of Shinde is kept in the hall along with his certificates. “The terrorists had AK-47s. Had the government given policemen effective weapons, the terrorists would have been shot down at CST. With such outdated weapons, you either get killed or suspended,’’ said Aditi.

It started after 9.30 pm. “On hearing gunshots, Shinde rushed to the suburban section to evacuate the area. While taking position to fight the terrorists, four bullets hit him on the back,’’ said an officer at the CST railway police station.

“Ismail Dera Khan, the terrorist later killed at Girgaum, appeared from behind and hurled a hand grenade at the ticket counter. Shinde fired two rounds from his service revolver but missed. Ismail Khan then fired at Shinde, who was trying to reach a secure position. Shinde was killed along with an RPF cop and a constable attached to the special protection unit, Ambadas Pawar. A CCTV captured images of the encounter.

Shinde, who joined as a subinspector in 1987, had completed two years with the CST railway police. “Four generations of our family have been in the police force,’’ said his father, Chandrasingh (78), who retired as assistant sub-inspector.

Mansi, Shinde’s wife and an LIC employee, has been offered a job by the railways. “I had dinner with my husband before he left around 7.30 pm. At 11.30 pm, some policemen told me that he had sustained a bullet injury on his arm. I reached GT Hospital but my husband was no more,’’ she recalled.

RELIEF FOR FAMILY
A Rs 25-lakh FD by the state A flat by Mhada in Versova Rs 4-lakh insurance by the railways Rs 5 lakh given by the BMC Rs 10 lakh compensation by the railways (in progress)

The Times of India, December 26, 2008