Sachin Kurmi's murder and the politics of Byculla

More than seven months after Sachin Kurmi, a local functionary of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was stabbed to death on October 4 while on a post-dinner walk in Byculla, his family are still awaiting justice.

- Vinay Dalvi

MUMBAI:

After approaching several political leaders, addressing multiple press conferences, and even sitting on a hunger strike for four days, the family now plans to move the Bombay high court.

Despite the Mumbai police arresting six people for the murder and invoking the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the family has expressed distrust in the investigation and alleged that Kurmi was killed by his political opponents, a claim that the Mumbai police have rejected so far. According to the investigation, prima facie, an old rivalry was the trigger for the murder.

The brutal killing—Kurmi was stabbed at least 20 times—has once again brought to light Byculla's complex history as a hub for organised crime and gang activity. The area's central location and industrial past make it a focal point for real estate disputes, which often involve political backing. Over the last few decades, several political parties have vied for influence in Byculla and the nearby Mazgaon, often leading to violence.

However, Kurmi had a clean image in the public, according to Mahesh Vengurlekar, a social worker from Mazgaon. "He was a seasoned politician; he had good people-to-people connections in the area; he was not into any illegal business," he said.