Mumbai – Stone Pelting by Miscreants on the Funeral Procession of Bajrang Dal Activist Late Arvind Vaishya

On July 28, 2024, in Dharavi under the watchful eyes of the police, Muslim youths Niyaz Sheikh alias Allu and Arif brutally killed 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Arvind Vaishya by stabbing him in the chest with a sharp weapon, cutting off his left hand, and continuously assaulting his head with the weapon until he died. Despite the involvement of Sher Ali, Saddam, Jumman, Yasin, and an unnamed youth in this gruesome murder, the police have only registered an FIR against Niyaz Sheikh alias Allu and Arif under sections 103(2), 351(2), and 3(5) of the Act.

On July 30, 2024, when the funeral procession of the late Arvind Vaishya was heading towards the Hindu crematorium in Dharavi, approximately 10,000 grieving Hindus were severely injured by heavy stone-pelting from buildings. Some police officers were also injured in the stone-pelting. To control the situation, the police, instead of targeting the stone-pelting miscreants, attacked the grieving Hindus in the funeral procession with batons. Subsequently, there was further stone-pelting and vandalism of shops in the Dharavi area. The last rites of the late Arvind Vaishya were performed under police protection.

Currently, there is a tense atmosphere in Dharavi. The public demands strict action against the illegal constructions and businesses in this area.