Mumbai: An incident illustrating this trend occurred when Kaif Aftab Khan, the 19-year-old son of local YouTuber Aftab Khan, was violently attacked by individuals connected to these unauthorized markets. Aftab runs the YouTube channel 'City Headline News,' which highlights the activities of local mafias.
The attack unfolded in Narsing Home Gully, under the jurisdiction of Naya Nagar Police Station. While heading to a nearby salon with a friend, Kaif encountered a tempo causing a traffic jam. As he tried to navigate around it, he was confronted and subsequently assaulted by members managing the illegal market operations.
Aftab Khan, in a media statement, detailed how he had recently reported on mafia groups extorting money from hawkers in these markets. He highlighted that known figures, such as one called Peshnawaz or 'Sonu Mental,' have been harassing vendors and demanding payment for stall spaces. Following his exposé, Aftab suggested that animosity towards him and his family from these criminal factions grew, culminating in the attack on his son, according to report by Midday.
The implications of such violent acts pose significant concerns regarding safety and law enforcement in the region, particularly for those willing to raise their voices against criminal enterprises. Local authorities are called upon to take robust action to restore order and safeguard residents from the intimidation linked to these illegal markets. As the community expresses its anxieties, there is a pressing need for enhanced police vigilance and strategies to combat organized crime.
Aftab Khan has reported a disturbing incident involving his son, who was assaulted after confronting individuals illegally unloading goods on the road, causing traffic obstruction. The confrontation escalated when Kaif, acting in self-defense, slapped one of the offenders, prompting a violent backlash from a group that included the known criminal Sonu Mental. This group severely injured Khan's son. Khan claims that Sonu Mental has a notorious reputation in the Mira Road area for harassing residents, extorting money from vendors, and being involved in drug trafficking, posing a serious threat to the community.
Khan believes that the assault on his son is a form of retaliation for his attempts to expose the illegal activities of criminals like Sonu Mental. He has expressed considerable fear for his family's safety due to these criminal elements. Police records indicate that Sonu Mental has numerous criminal cases against him at local police stations, and a proposal to extern him from the area was submitted in 2021, but no action has been taken yet.
Following the report of the attack, Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey has called for immediate action. The Naya Nagar Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), addressing charges of attempted murder, and investigations are currently underway. A search operation is in progress to locate and arrest all individuals involved in the assault. Law enforcement authorities have assured the community of strict legal action and preventive measures against those implicated in this violent episode.
