Overview
- Five suspects were arrested and remanded to two days of police custody after an FIR under multiple Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions was filed at Samta Nagar police station.
- The late-evening operation turned violent as a crowd allegedly assaulted civic staff, pelted stones, damaged a JCB, and forced officials to take shelter in nearby shops.
- Investigators say 10 to 12 more unidentified individuals are wanted, with CCTV and local inquiries guiding further arrests.
- BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani visited the site, met injured workers, and directed strict, ongoing action against unauthorised hawkers and obstructive shopfronts, including towing vehicles and shutting a pizza outlet for blocking traffic.
- Local residents and the Lokhandwala Residents Association dispute police claims that the accused are hawkers, asserting some are shopkeepers or dairy vendors.