In a shocking incident, an Assistant Police Sub Inspector of the Mumbai Police committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver after opening fire at his senior and his orderly
Assistant police sub inspector of Vakola Police Station, Dilip Shirke, in a fit of rage over negative markings, committed suicide but shot at the senior police inspector and his operator before pulling the trigger on himself on Saturday.
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Rakesh Maria visited the scene of crime at Vakola Police Station yesterday. Pics/Atul Kamble
The incident
The incident took place at around 8.40 pm when Shirke, frustrated over his police duty, learnt that earlier in the day, Senior police inspector Vilas Joshi had made a diary entry against him and entered negative remarks as the night police inspector had not found him on duty.
A furious Shirke went to discuss the issue with Joshi in his cabin. An officer, on condition of anonymity, said, “When he went to discuss the issue with Joshi, he ignored him and walked out of his cabin. This triggered Shirke’s anger and he shot at him twice. His operator, Balasaheb Ahire, who tried to come to his rescue, was also shot in his leg. Shirke then pumped two rounds of bullet into his forehead.”
According to police sources, 57-year-old Shirke was a jolly person, but had a short temper. He had been frustrated as his leave application had not been granted since a year. An officer added, “Last year he was promoted to the post of Assistant Police Sub Inspector, but had not been granted any leave since then as he was in charge of the unit’s mobile police van and looked after nakabandi duties of the police station.”
Commissioner of Mumbai Police Rakesh Maria, who rushed to the spot, said, “The investigation of this case has been transferred to the Crime Branch. The ASI is upset as he had received two negative markings. Joshi and Shirke got into an argument over this and shot him and his operator outside his chamber before committing suicide.”
While Shirke died on the spot, Joshi and Ahire have been admitted to Lilavati Hospital. Joshi, who sustained injuries on his leg and back, is critical while the operator has beendeclared out of danger.
Son speaks
Dilip Shirke’s son Abhishek told Sunday Mid Day, “The Zone DCP and the senior police inspector often targeted my father. This is way he may have been compelled to take such an extreme step. My father wasn’t happy as this year his increment had been denied. Two years ago my father had taken 70 days sick leave, had not gone down well with his superiors.”