Mumbai: 61-year-old RTI activist Bhupendra Vira shot dead

Bhupinder was killed at around 10 PM on Saturday night, when he watching television at his house in Razzak Chawl of Kalina.

Mumbai, Oct 16: Right to Information (RTI) activist Bhupendra Vira was shot dead at his residence in Kalina on Saturday night. The 61-year-old civil society member was killed at his own residence by unidentified gunmen. The assailants succeeded in fleeing from the spot of crime. The family members of the deceased activist claim that Bhupendra had taken on members of political establishment and therefore he was silenced to death. A case has been registered in Vakola police station. No arrest has been made so far. Few suspects have been taken in custody for questioning. Police is yet to obtain any major lead in the case.

Bhupendra’s daughter-in-law Sheela Vira has accused ex-corporator from the area of planning the assassination. While speaking to Hindustan Times, she said, “We have a property dispute with the ex-corporator. He has many illegal constructions and gives weekly bribes to police and BMC so no action is taken against him. My father-in-law stood against all his wrongdoings and so he has been killed.” (ALSO READ: 51-year-old RTI activist hacked to death in Mangaluru by unidentified assailants)

Bhupendra had filed several RTI applications to obtain details about the illegal constructions in the region of Kalina. Due to his constant activism, a number of politicians and members of land mafia were irked against him. Deputy Commissioner of Mumbai Police (Zone 8) Virendra Mishra confirmed the case of murder. Vakola police is currently working on the case. The key accused, ex corporator, has so far not been detained.

Giving out more details of the case, Vakola police stated that Bhupinder was killed at around 10 PM on Saturday night, when he watching television at his house in Razzak Chawl, located behind Kalina Masjid in Santacruz. Before neighbours could be alerted, the assailants fled away from the crime scene. Bhupinder’s body has been sent for post-mortem to ascertain more details.