Mumbai: Funerals of policeman and his killer a study in contrast

Senior PI Vilas Joshi was given a guard of honour.

The funerals of the murdered cop and his murderer presented a study in contrast yesterday.

While several senior IPS officers, including Director General of Police (Maharashtra) Sanjeev Dayal and Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria attended the funeral of Senior Police Inspector Vilas Joshi at Chandanwadi crematorium in Marine Lines, no senior official was present for the final rites of Assistant Sub-Inspector Dilip Shirke.

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And, while Joshi was given a guard of honour and was fondly remembered by everyone, Shirke's own relatives blamed him for murdering not just the senior police inspector, but also the future of his own wife and children.

A hero's farewell
Joshi's body was brought to his home at the Tardeo police quarters in the morning and was taken to Chandanwadi by ambulance. A convoy of over 100 cars and bikes followed the ambulance from Tardeo to the crematorium in Marine Lines, and the roads were closed in all the places that it passed.

Senior PI Vilas Joshi was given a guard of honour. Pic/Atul Kamble

The convoy reached Chandanwadi in 20 minutes. The rituals were conducted in the presence of DG Dayal, Commissioner Maria, several joint commissioners, additional commissioners, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, inspectors, and most of the staff members from the Vakola police station. Joshi was given the complete guard of honour and three rounds fired in the air. Several officers and constables were also seen crying at the funeral, which ended in an hour.