The city of Mumbai remains on edge after the shocking and brutal murder of 45-year-old Hindu IT professional Shivkumar Sharma in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. On the evening of February 2, Sharma was mercilessly lynched in broad daylight by two assailants—Rehan Shaikh and Faizan Shaikh—who repeatedly smashed his skull with his own helmet over a minor road rage incident. The sheer savagery of the attack, which led to Sharma collapsing and dying shortly afterward, has fueled widespread outrage, with growing demands for strict action against the accused and a crackdown on radical Islamist elements.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Sakal Hindu Samaj have raised serious concerns over the motive behind Sharma’s killing. Hindu organisations assert that this was no ordinary case of road rage but a premeditated attack fueled by Islamist extremism.
“The assailants did not just attack Sharma in a fit of rage. They deliberately targeted him after seeing his Hindu identity. His religious symbols provoked them. This is a hate crime against Hindus, and it must be treated as such,” said a VHP spokesperson during a protest outside Kharghar police station on February 10.
After a week-long manhunt, Navi Mumbai police managed to track down and arrest one of the accused, Rehan Shaikh, in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) area. However, the prime accused, Faizan Shaikh, who directly delivered the fatal blows to Sharma, remains absconding. Authorities are scouring CCTV footage, mobile location data, and eyewitness testimonies to nab the fugitive.
The duo, both working as delivery boys, have been booked under sections 103(1), 351(3), and 3(5) of the BNS Act, 2023. However, given the communal angle of the crime, Hindu organisations are demanding stricter charges and an urgent review of radical activities linked to Tablighi Jamaat.
Shivkumar Sharma’s murder occurred on the same day as the massive Tablighi Jamaat congregation, Ijtema, held in Kharghar. Lakhs of Islamists had gathered for the three-day religious event, with controversial Maulana Saad, the head of the Tablighi Jamaat, delivering incendiary speeches that allegedly fanned communal hatred. Both Rehan and Faizan, suspected to have attended the event, later targeted Sharma in a shocking act of brutality.
As per reports, the two accused stopped Sharma’s bike in the middle of the road following a minor overtaking dispute. What should have been a routine altercation escalated into a horrifying hate crime, as the attackers, spotting Sharma’s religious symbols—a Bhagwan Shiva tattoo, a Rudraksha mala, and a ‘Jai Mata Di’ sticker on his bike—descended upon him with unrelenting violence. Witnesses recall how the duo launched a barbaric assault, smashing his head repeatedly with his own helmet until he lay unconscious and bleeding profusely.
Despite his severe injuries, Sharma staggered to the police station to file a complaint against the assailants. However, he collapsed on the spot due to internal hemorrhaging. Police rushed him to a hospital, but it was too late—he was declared dead upon arrival.
BJP leaders demand ban on Tablighi Jamaat
In response to the murder, BJP leader Nitesh Rane has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, demanding a ban on the Tablighi Jamaat in Maharashtra. Rane also called for an immediate crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants residing in the state, citing concerns over rising Islamist extremism.
“This is not Pakistan. Hindu lives matter, and we will not allow radical Islamists to turn Maharashtra into a breeding ground for anti-Hindu violence,” Rane stated during his visit to Sharma’s grieving family.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya echoed similar sentiments, assuring Sharma’s family that the state government is committed to ensuring justice. “Met 4 sisters of #ShivkumarSharma who was lynched in Kharghar by Muslim fanatic activists. The police have assured us that the main accused will be arrested soon,” he posted on X.
In a shocking statement, a family member of Sharma expressed concern over the demographic shift in Kharghar, calling it a ‘Mini-Pakistan.’
“The area has become a hotbed for radical elements. We have told the police multiple times that Kharghar is turning into a dangerous zone for Hindus. This is not just a one-off incident. The entire system is allowing such elements to thrive,” the relative said.
Their concern is not without basis—Tablighi Jamaat, the organisation linked to the Ijtema event, has a troubling history of radicalism. The group was banned by Saudi Arabia in 2021, citing its extremist leanings and links to terrorism. The fact that the Kharghar Ijtema witnessed over a lakh attendees, instead of the expected 50,000, raises serious security concerns.
Following Sharma’s murder, thousands of Hindus have taken to the streets, demanding justice. The February 10th protests in Kharghar saw widespread participation from Hindu groups, all calling for stringent action against radical elements.
“This is not just about Sharma. This is about every Hindu in Bharat who is under attack. If we do not act now, tomorrow it will be another innocent Hindu,” said a protestor.
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