In a significant breakthrough, the Vashi Government Railway Police (GRP) has successfully arrested a man from Tamil Nadu in connection with a brutal stabbing incident aboard a local train in Navi Mumbai. The arrest culminated a meticulous five-day investigation into an attempt to murder case that left a young man critically injured.
The Shocking Attack on a Moving Train
The violent episode unfolded on the morning of December 23. The victim, Siraj Abdullah Sheikh (23), was travelling with a friend, Mubarak Khan, in the general compartment of the 7:50 am CSMT-Panvel local. As the train approached the Vashi station area around 8 am, the accused, identified as Rajesh Arundvihar alias Rajesh Arunthadiyar (24), launched a sudden and vicious assault.
Arunthadiyar attacked Sheikh with a sharp knife, stabbing him multiple times on the neck, chest, back, and near the waist. The assailant then managed to escape by jumping from the moving train, leaving Sheikh with serious, life-threatening injuries.
A Swift Response and Coordinated Manhunt
The injured Siraj Sheikh was immediately rushed to the NMMC Hospital in Vashi for initial treatment. Due to the severity of his wounds, he was later transferred to Mumbai's Sion Hospital, where doctors have since confirmed he is out of danger. While Sheikh was undergoing treatment, the Vashi GRP recorded his statement and registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) under charges of attempt to murder.
Acting swiftly, the police formed three dedicated teams to track down the fugitive. Senior Inspector Kiran Undre of Vashi GRP stated that during the investigation, they learned the accused had fled to his maternal aunt's residence in Tamil Nadu. "Accordingly, the police team was sent there and the accused was arrested on December 27 using police intelligence and technical expertise," Undre explained.
Families in Shock Over Unexplained Motive
In a poignant twist to the violent crime, the incident has left both families, who have been neighbours for decades in Cheetah Camp, utterly bewildered. They have shown unity and expressed shock, as no prior enmity or quarrel could explain the sudden attack.
Rajalaxmi Rajendran, the mother of the accused Arunvihari, expressed her confusion, stating, "We have never quarrelled. We have been neighbours for decades." Echoing the sentiment, the victim's brother, Firoz Sheikh, said, "We were told just a day ago that the person was arrested from Tamil Nadu. My brother is still recovering, we will be seeing the case to conclusion in the court now."
The Vashi GRP's effective cross-state operation highlights the use of technical surveillance and coordinated policing to apprehend individuals involved in serious crimes. The case will now proceed through the judicial system as the victim continues his recovery.
