A 26-year-old man from Dharavi, identified as Arvind Vaishya, was killed on Sunday night while attempting to mediate a conflict between two groups of residents. Vaishya had called for police assistance when he was unable to resolve the dispute on his own. Despite the fact that plainclothes policemen were trailing him just 50 meters behind, he was fatally stabbed in the chest, resulting in his death. 

According to the police, Vaishya, a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Dharavi, was employed by a medical supplies company. He had two brothers, one younger and one older, and his father worked as a watchman. 

According to the police, Vaishya was friends with Siddhesh Gore, who operates a cutlery shop in the neighborhood. On Sunday evening, Gore had a dispute with Niyaz Islam Shaikh, also known as Allu, his father Aslam Shaikh, and his friend Arif Shaikh, reportedly over Shaikh’s loud honking near the shop. The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation, and Vaishya attempted to mediate but was attacked. He then went to the Dharavi police station to report the fight and request assistance.

A police officer from the Dharavi station explained, "Since Vaishya was on a two-wheeler and familiar with the location of the fight, a team of plainclothes detection officers followed him in a police jeep." When they arrived in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar and Vaishya dismounted his vehicle to enter a narrow lane, he encountered Niyaz Shaikh. “Vaishya intended to point out Shaikh to the officers, who were trailing him about 50 meters behind. However, Shaikh suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed Vaishya in the chest,” the officer said. 

Vaishya was rushed to Sion Hospital, where he was pronounced dead within ten minutes, according to the police. "He had only one stab wound, but it was severe enough to puncture his chest and cause his death," a police officer reported.

Niyaz Shaikh was apprehended shortly after the stabbing, but his accomplice, Arif Shaikh, managed to escape. Arif was later arrested after a two-hour search on Sunday, according to Tejaswini Satpute, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V).

Rahul Vaishya, the deceased's cousin, claimed that the accused were notorious criminals who were often under the influence of drugs and caused trouble. He asserted that his brother was killed due to police inaction against them.

"My brother was murdered in front of the police team. The police explained that they were delayed in opening the police jeep door because it was jammed, which contributed to his death," Rahul Vaishya said. 

Rajiv Chaubey, Secretary of the Mumbai division of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, made similar accusations against the police. “The murder occurred in the presence of the police. There is no fear of law enforcement,” he said.

Chaubey also took part in a sit-in protest outside the Dharavi police station on Monday, demanding prompt action against all the suspects. “There are multiple suspects in this case, but the police have only named and arrested two individuals. We have provided them with CCTV footage from the area and expect them to apprehend all those involved,” he added.

The police have filed charges under sections 103(2) (murder) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. “We are investigating the roles of other individuals, and if their involvement is confirmed, further arrests will be made,” a police officer stated.