Teen's family suspect political interference to weaken case

Family members of the slain 15-year-old Shubham Mahadev Shirke, who was kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by his three friends, including a couple of juveniles on Saturday for a mere ransom of Rs 50,000, have raised suspicion about a possible political intervention to weaken the case.

They corroborated their suspicion by stating that father one of the accused juvenile's has political links.

Addressing the media persons at their residence in Digh, Shubham's mother and father Sunita and Mahadev, said that the crime was premeditated and their son's killers, who were also his friends, kidnapped Shubham and later killed him mercilessly.

Punish them: Shubham's parents Sunita and Mahadev Shirke said that the crime was premeditated and demanded capital punishment for their son's killers. Pic/Krunal Gosavi

Demanding stringent action against the suspects, Sunita also asked for amendment in the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act, 2000.

"Though they are minor, but the kind of act they have performed was premeditated and merciless. They should be given capital punishment for their heinous act," said a teary-eyed Sunita.

Apart from demanding capital punishment for the accused, Shirke family also accused the police for not taking prompt action.

"We had called police control room at 4.45 pm after we received the first call from the kidnapper. However, the control room asked us to approach the nearest police chowky. We were so scared at that time so we couldn't muster courage to visit the chowky and lodge a complaint as we feared for our child's life."

Ironically, the parents also appreciated the Vishrantwadi police's efforts in locating Shubham's body and arresting the trio.

Sudhir Nikam, Sunita's brother demanded that renowned criminal lawyer, Ujjwal Nikam, should take up this case. "We also want to meet Home Minister R R Patil in this regard."

According to Motichand Rathod, senior police inspector, Vishratwadi police station, while Amit Nair, the only adult suspect has been remanded to five days of police custody, they will urge the court to allow them to interrogate the two minors, who are currently placed in observation room.

"During interrogation,
Nair told us that while he only worked as money collector,
it were the minors who killed Shubham," said Rathod.u00a0