Bhupendra Vira Murder: 2 arrested for RTI activist’s murder in Mumbai

A 72-year-old Right to Information (RTI) activist Bhupendra Vira from suburban Santacruz was shot dead at his residence by an unidentified person on Sunday.

Mumbai, Oct 17: A 72-year-old Right to Information (RTI) activist Bhupendra Vira from suburban Santacruz was shot dead at his residence by an unidentified person on Sunday. As per reports by the police, the 72-year-old RTI activist was fighting against land mafia, unauthorized structures and encroachments in and around Kalina.

Two people were arrested in the case by the Mumbai Police on Monday morning, PTI reported. As soon police received the information of the murder, they rushed at his residence. The activist is survived by a daughter and two sons. His body was sent to JJ Hospital for post-mortem. As per reports by NDTV, Vira was watching TV at his residence on Saturday when the killer entered around 9 pm and shot him in the head. The shooter is suspected to have used a silencer; Vira’s wife, who was reportedly in the house, didn’t hear anything.

#UPDATE: 2 people arrested by Mumbai police in 72-year-old RTI activist Bhupendra Vira’s murder case.

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 17, 2016

Soon after the incident, social activist and former AAP leader Anjali Damania, who had worked with Vira, demanded immediate arrest of the accused. Damania described Vira as a committed social worker and 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”. She also informed that he had written several letters to authorities including, Lokayukta, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police, seeking action against illegal structures.” (ALSO READ: Perfumer murder case: Accused Rajkumar Singh remanded in 7-day police custody)

Vira was linked to the ‘Voice of Kalina’, a citizen’s group. Many AAP leaders condemned the ghastly murder. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satish Jain said Vira’s untiring efforts had resulted in the BMC ordering demolition of four illegal structures, apparently belonging to the mafia. Talking about his bravery, the leader stated that 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.

(Image Credit: News X)