Slumlords' real estate nexus, callous cops "responsible" for Mumbai gangrape of local environmental activist

By A Representative
The Mumbai-based civil society organization, working on house rights issues, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan (GBGBA) has said that the gang rape of an environmental activist living in a slum community in Mumbai is the direct result of her fight against illegal uprooting of mangroves in the area.
The woman was sexually assaulted by five men on Sunday, one day after her complaint led to the demolition of their illegal hutments on the green patch at Sai Dham Nagar in Kandivali’s Charkop area.
Insisting that the Mumbai police is also responsible for this gruesome incident, GBGBA said, the cops showed “callousness” by failing to take steps “which would have avoided such a heinous crime.”
GBGBA said, “Generally, every informal settlement in Mumbai has a strong and active nexus of slumlords and local police which is involved in illegal selling of government and private plots to poor working class of the city to construct their dwellings.”
Pointing out that “this nexus controls water and electricity supply”, GBGBA, in a statement issued on Thursday said, it “sells plots by cutting mangroves and fill the marshy land with debris.”
GBGBA noted, “Members of this nexus also harass women living in the community and in nearby areas physically and sexually”, adding, “This nexus takes full advantage of the helplessness of poor working class of the city who due to the unavailability of cheaper housing option fall prey to slumlords.”

Illegal shanties destroyed because of the woman's complaint

“Slumlords control these mainly marshy areas, and allow construction of huts only when they are paid some money”, GBGBA said, adding, the police is “directly involved” in this racket.
These things are continuing despite the fact that, GBGBA claimed, its activists made several complaints to the local police stations of respective areas, complaining cutting mangroves, public consumption of hooch, and harassment of women.”
One who was engaged in conserving mangrove cover in the area associated with the Anyay Nivaran Bhrashtachar Nirmulan Paryavaran Sanrakshan Sanstha, on Saturday she lodged a complaint with the local forest department about the shanties which came up, with unauthorized structures being sold for as high as Rs 12 lakh.
Local activists said, the woman was assigned the task of monitoring mangroves. After her complaint on Saturday, the structures were demolished. The men involved in the gang rape “began filming her from the window to terrorise her.”
Then, she was dragged outside and was hit with an iron rod. She was thrust to the floor and raped. Her mother heard the commotion, arrived at the spot and called the police. All this happened between 3.30 and 4.00 pm.
Taken to the nearby Ambedkar Hospital, where she received stitches on her face and ribs, local activists complained, the police didn’t inform the hospital about her case.
Meanwhile, the victim has accused the police of being hand-in-glove with those responsible for raping her. Her lawyer has said, the police official on duty at Charkop police station, Mahadev Tukaram Bhonsale, didn’t register the FIR on time. Five persons were booked only after an FIR was filed on Monday.

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

The Epstein shock, global power games and India’s foreign policy dilemma

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The “Epstein” tsunami has jolted establishments everywhere. Politicians, bureaucrats, billionaires, celebrities, intellectuals, academics, religious gurus, and preachers—all appear to be under scrutiny, even dismantled. At first glance, it may seem like a story cutting across left, right, centre, Democrats, Republicans, socialists, capitalists—every label one can think of. Much of it, of course, is gossip, as people seek solace in the possible inclusion of names they personally dislike.

Paper guarantees, real hardship: How budget 2026–27 abandons rural India

By Vikas Meshram In the history of Indian democracy, the Union government’s annual budget has always carried great significance. However, the 2026–27 budget raises several alarming concerns for rural India. In particular, the vague provisions of the VBG–Ram Ji scheme and major changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) have put the future of rural workers at risk. A deeper reading of the budget reveals that these changes are not merely administrative but are closely tied to political and economic priorities that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of rural households.

Penpa Tsering’s leadership and record under scrutiny amidst Tibetan exile elections

By Tseten Lhundup* Within the Tibetan exile community, Penpa Tsering is often described as having risen through grassroots engagement. Born in 1967, he comes from an ordinary Tibetan family, pursued higher education at Delhi University in India, and went on to serve as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from 2008 to 2016. In 2021, he was elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), becoming the second democratically elected political leader of the administration after Lobsang Sangay.

Michael Parenti: Scholar known for critiques of capitalism and U.S. foreign policy

By Harsh Thakor* Michael Parenti, an American political scientist, historian, and author known for his Marxist and anti-imperialist perspectives, died on January 24 at the age of 92. Over several decades, Parenti wrote and lectured extensively on issues of capitalism, imperialism, democracy, media, and U.S. foreign policy. His work consistently challenged dominant political and economic narratives, particularly those associated with Western liberal democracies and global capitalism.

Search This Blog