In Mumbai’s Goregaon area, 26-year-old Harshal Parma was mistaken for a thief by local labourers and brutally beaten after being tied up. Despite severe injuries and hospitalisation, Harshal succumbed to his wounds.
Four individuals, Salman Mohammad Khan, Isamullah Khan, Gautam Chamar, and Rajiv Gupta, have been arrested by Goregaon police, who have registered a murder case. The police are continuing their investigation, urging citizens to avoid mob justice and rely on lawful channels.
The Incident: A Fatal Mistake
The violence happened on the night of October 18-19, 2025, at an under-construction building in Subhash Nagar, Teen Dongri, Goregaon (West). According to reports, Harshal Parma left home around midnight, saying he was going out for a drink.
Hours later, he was found unconscious at the construction site. Allegedly suspected of theft, several labourers tied his hands and legs before subjecting him to a brutal beating with bamboo sticks, kicks, and punches. Despite being rushed to Trauma Care Hospital, doctors declared him dead on arrival due to critical injuries.
The accused reportedly acted on suspicion, not concrete evidence, highlighting the dangers of rash mob actions.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
The Goregaon police swiftly registered a murder case and arrested four accused individuals. Charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code include murder and unlawful assembly. Witness testimonies, including the building’s watchman, played a vital role in identifying the accused.
Police are scrutinising CCTV footage from the area for further leads and to ensure all participants in the assault face legal consequences. Authorities have pledged to uphold justice and maintain vigilance in the area to prevent similar tragedies.
Mob Justice: A Rising Concern
This incident is part of a broader trend of mob violence across India, driven by fear and impatience with formal law enforcement. Such acts violate fundamental legal principles, often resulting in tragedy and innocent lives lost. Experts and human rights groups stress the importance of civil awareness and education to discourage vigilantism.
The police have reinforced their appeals for citizens to report suspicious activities through proper channels rather than resorting to violent confrontations which bypass due process and risk escalating harm.
India has witnessed a disturbing increase in mob violence and communal clashes in recent years, with the year 2024 seeing an 84 percent rise in communal riots compared to the previous year. Such violence often erupts during religious festivals or triggered by rumours, leading to fatalities, injuries, and widespread fear.
Maharashtra, including Mumbai, has been identified as a hotspot for such incidents, where mob actions sometimes stem from communal tensions or suspicions, like the tragic case of Harshal Parma. Experts emphasise that mob violence undermines the rule of law, disrupts social harmony, and demands urgent redress through education, justice, and community engagement.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Harshal Parma’s death is a heartbreaking manifestation of the harm caused when trust in justice is replaced by fear and assumption.
The Logical Indian advocates that peace, empathy, and legal accountability must guide responses to crime. Communities and authorities must collaborate to create mechanisms that encourage trust and non-violent solutions to conflict.
