A disturbing act of violence inside a moving local train was followed by an unexpected scene of community solidarity at Mumbai's Sion Hospital on Thursday. The families of both the victim and the accused, who are neighbours from Cheetah Camp, stood together, united in shock and confusion over the sudden attack.
The Train Attack: A Sudden Assault
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning. According to police reports, Rajesh Arunvihari (21) allegedly attacked Siraj Shaikh (24) with a knife inside a CSMT-bound Panvel local train. The assault happened as the train was near Vashi station in Navi Mumbai. Shaikh suffered multiple stab wounds to his neck, chest, and back.
Arunvihari managed to escape by jumping from the moving train immediately after the attack and remains at large two days later. Shaikh was first rushed to the NMMC Hospital in Vashi for emergency treatment and was later transferred to Sion Hospital for further care. By Thursday, doctors confirmed that Shaikh was out of danger.
Families Baffled, Yet United
In a remarkable turn of events, the families of the attacker and the victim displayed profound unity at the hospital. Both sides, who have lived as neighbours for decades in Cheetah Camp, expressed bewilderment over a possible motive. Rajalaxmi Rajendran, Arunvihari's mother, stated that the families had never quarrelled.
She revealed that her son had struggled with addiction for years, confirming issues with alcohol and suspected use of other substances. In an effort to rehabilitate him, the family had sent him to a private de-addiction centre in Virar a few months prior. He returned home in November and had recently secured a sanitation job in Sanpada.
Shaikh's brother provided additional context, mentioning that in their neighbourhood, Arunvihari was known to stalk a woman. However, this behaviour was generally perceived by locals as a sign of an underlying mental health condition rather than malicious intent.
Police Investigation and Possible Motive
The Vashi Government Railway Police (GRP) have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the case, invoking charges of attempt to murder. Three dedicated police teams have been formed to track down and arrest the accused.
Senior Inspector Kiran Undre of Vashi GRP shed light on a potential motive. Based on the victim's statement, Undre explained that Arunvihari had recently been involved in an altercation with a woman in their locality. Shaikh's brother had intervened in that situation, siding with the woman. The police theory suggests that Arunvihari may have held a grudge over this intervention and targeted Siraj Shaikh in the train as an act of retaliation.
Mubarak Khan, a colleague who was travelling with Shaikh during the attack, noted that they had begun noticing Arunvihari around Vashi station or on the same train in the days leading up to the incident. Khan recounted that the stabbing was sudden and unprovoked, with no prior argument taking place inside the compartment at that moment.
The case highlights a tragic crime on Mumbai's busy suburban network, juxtaposed with the enduring bonds of a close-knit community now grappling with its devastating consequences.
