Stone Pelting On Funeral Procession Of Bajrang Dal Activist Arvind Vaishya In Dharavi

A stone-pelting incident was reported on the funeral procession of a 26-year-old Dharavi man. The victim – Arvind Vaishya, a Bajrang Dal activist – was stabbed in his chest, leading to his death, as he tried to resolve a fight between two groups of residents on Sunday. During the funeral procession on Tuesday, a crowd was heading towards the crematorium in Dharavi when stones were pelted at them from adjoining buildings. Police had to step in and ease tensions and Vaishya’s last rites were eventually performed under police protection.

While the police identified the victim as a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Dharavi and said he worked with a medical supplies firm, they refrained from commenting on the stone pelting incident.

Police have arrested two persons in the case so far and search is underway for the remaining accused.

A case has been registered under sections 103 (2) (murder) and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. “We are verifying the role of others and if we find their involvement, we will make further arrests,” said a police officer.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya also condemned the act urged the police to undertake Combing Operation of the area.

“I strongly condemn stone pelting by Drug Mafias & Goons of Dharavi at Khawaja Garib Nawaz Area of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar Dharavi on The Smashan Yatra of ARVIND VAISHYA. I myself witness the incident. I requested Police to undertake Combing Operation of the area,” he said on X.

Rajiv Chaubey, secretary of the Mumbai division of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, while speaking to news agency IANS, levelled allegations against the Mumbai Police and said, “The murder took place in front of the police,” he said.

Chaubey also participated in a sit-in protest in front of Dharavi Police Station on Monday demanding swift action against the accused.