Ulhasnagar witnessed heightened tension on Sunday as the burial of Akshay Shinde, a 24-year-old accused of raping two four-year-old girls, sparked widespread protests. Shinde, who had been arrested on August 16 and killed in an alleged police encounter, was finally laid to rest after a week-long struggle to find a burial site. Authorities selected the Shanti Nagar crematorium for the burial, but the decision was met with fierce opposition from local political leaders and residents. The burial faced delays as crowds gathered, with protestors demanding that Shinde not be buried in Ulhasnagar.
Heavy police deployment was required to manage the situation, ensuring that the burial proceeded amid strong public backlash. Shinde, who worked as a contractual sweeper at the school in Badlapur East, was finally buried under tight security, with police intervening to control the agitated crowd and prevent any incidents. Following a Bombay High Court order, Shinde was buried at the Camp 3 cemetery by 6 pm on Sunday. Members of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, along with hundreds of citizens, strongly protested the burial, creating tension at the cemetery. Heavy police presence was deployed to prevent disturbances. Shinde's family members were visibly emotional, receiving police protection until they left the area.
“We have a tradition of either burying or cremating the deceased, and we chose burial,” said a family member, expressing shock at the events. Additional Commissioner of Police Sanjay Shinde stated that the family had requested assistance for Akshay’s burial, and the police facilitated the process. However, some protesters continued to threaten to remove the body. Rajendra Choudhary and Bala Shrikhande, local leaders of the Shinde Sena, led activists to fill up the grave dug for the burial, causing delays. Protesters chanted, “The brutal actions of Akshay Shinde have hurt the sentiments of Ulhasnagar’s citizens. Such a person should not be buried in this city.” Amid the tense atmosphere, authorities tightened security at the cemetery to prevent any incidents, and the final burial procedures were carried out by the family at around 6 pm.