Mumbai: A single, unidentified assailant barged into the residence of a 60-year-old RTI activist and shot him dead at Kalina in Santa Cruz (east) on Saturday night.
The victim, Bhupendra Vira, was a well-known activist who had raised his voice against several illegal constructions and exposed the local land mafia’s nefarious activities.
Mr Vira’s family suspects the role of a former corporator, but the police has made no comments on the latter’s role, saying investigations are still at an initial stage.
The fact that there was no CCTV camera installed near the crime scene is proving to be a hurdle, the cops added, since footage from it could have yielded a clue about the assailant’s identity.
The family’s suspicions lie on the corporator since Mr Vira had opposed his irregular activities in the past. “My father-in-law had made many enemies due to his activism. He would file RTIs, and uncover details about the numerous illegal constructions. He had also managed to anger an ex-corporator who had tried to encroach upon our land a few years ago,” said Sheela Vira, the victim’s daughter-in-law.
