72-Year-Old RTI Activist Bhupendra Vira Murdered; 2 Arrested

A 72-year-old RTI activist was shot dead at point-blank range at his residence in suburban Santacruz by an unidentified person on Sunday, police said.

Two people were arrested in the case by the Mumbai Police on Monday morning.

The activist, Bhupendra Vira, who had been fighting against land mafia, unauthorised structures and encroachments in and around Kalina, was attacked last night.

Social activist and former AAP leader Anjali Damania, who had worked with Vira, alleged that he was targeted for taking on the land mafia and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

The assailant entered Vira’s residence around 9 pm on Sunday, put a gun to his temple and fired. The activist died on the spot.

Police

Vira is survived by a daughter and two sons. His body was sent to JJ Hospital for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, social activist and former AAP leader Anjali Damania, who had worked with Vira, demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Describing him as a committed social worker, Damania said, "Vira along with other members of the ALM were fighting against encroachments, illegal structures and land mafia in and around Kalina by filing RTIs. He had written several letters to authorities including, Lokayukta, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police, seeking action against illegal structures."

“On Sunday morning, Vira had persuaded the BMC authorities to issue four notices to a local goon living in the same area,” Damania said.

Condemning the brutal murder of the "whistle-blower", Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satish Jain said, "Vira very bravely took on the land mafia in Kalina which was eyeing several properties in that area, including Bhupendra's shop.

"The same mafia, led by an ex-Congress corporator, had stabbed Vira's son four years ago, when he decided to take them head on," he alleged.

"Vira's untiring efforts had resulted in the BMC ordering demolition of four illegal structures, apparently belonging to the mafia," he said.