A disturbing incident of communal tension and alleged police brutality has unfolded in Mumbai’s Vakola area, where a minor Hindu girl associated with the Durga Vahini organisation was reportedly assaulted by a Muslim man, Sameer Khan, and his wife, Sonali Das, on February 16. The altercation, sparked by the girl’s students chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ during a free tuition class, escalated into violence, drawing the attention of Hindu activists.
The minor girl, a member of Durga Vahini—a sister organisation of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)—regularly conducts free tuition sessions for underprivileged Hindu children in her neighbourhood. Her father, a VHP activist, told the media that these classes often include lessons on Hindu history and Dharma, accompanied by devotional bhajans and chants like ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ On February 16, while calling children for her weekly session, the girl’s activities allegedly provoked Sameer Khan and Sonali Das, a couple living nearby.
According to the girl’s father, Sonali Das had previously objected to the religious content of the classes, particularly the chanting of ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ On the day of the incident, an argument broke out between the minor, Khan, and Das, which quickly turned physical. The girl returned home distressed and informed her family, prompting her parents and elder sister to confront the couple. This second encounter reportedly erupted into violence, with Khan and Das allegedly assaulting the minor once again.
Following the clash, Sonali Das and her family lodged an FIR at Vakola Police Station against the minor girl and her family. The complaint, filed by Das’s mother, claimed that the altercation caused injuries to their side, leading to charges under Sections 118(1), 115(2), 352, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Meanwhile, the Hindu family attempted to file a counter-complaint detailing the assault on the minor but alleged that police delayed the process, citing an impending shift change.
Frustrated by the inaction, the girl reached out to Bajrang Dal activist Jaikishan Prajapati, who arrived at the station with fellow activists to support her in registering an FIR. What followed was a confrontation that spiralled out of control.
Jaikishan told OpIndia that tensions flared when activists pressed for immediate action, only to be rebuffed by police who questioned their authority. As the group stepped outside to regroup, a police official allegedly slapped one of the activists, sparking outrage. In response, sub-inspectors Shivaji Shinde, Achyut Naikare, and Dnyaneshwar Shinde reportedly dragged the activists back into the station and assaulted them for over 30 minutes.
The situation escalated until senior VHP leaders intervened, contacting higher-ranking police officials to halt the violence. CCTV footage reviewed by senior authorities confirmed the use of excessive force, leading to the immediate transfer of the implicated officers from Vakola Police Station. However, no formal complaint has been filed against the police personnel by Bajrang Dal as of now.
The dual assaults—first on the minor girl and then on the activists—ignited outrage among Hindu organisations. Bajrang Dal and VHP leaders condemned both the initial attack and the police response, demanding strict action against Khan, Das, and the errant officers. Gautam Rawaria, co-convenor of Bajrang Dal, issued a two-day ultimatum for accountability, threatening a silent march by the Hindu community to Vakola Police Station if their demands are unmet.
The girl’s father expressed anguish over the incident, accusing Khan and Das of targeting his daughter for her faith-based activities. “This was not just an attack on my daughter but on our beliefs,” he told OpIndia. Meanwhile, the Vakola Police Station in-charge declined to comment extensively, stating only that an inquiry into the matter is ongoing.
The incident has laid bare simmering tensions in the area, with the minor’s tuition classes—intended as a service to poor Hindu children—becoming a flashpoint for conflict. While Sonali Das’s FIR frames her family as victims of aggression, the Hindu family and Bajrang Dal assert that the assault stemmed from intolerance toward their religious expression.
