A Mumbai police officer from the Khar Police Station’s Marshal Squad drew widespread attention this week after he noticed an unsafe makeshift cradle on a footpath during his routine patrol and took swift action to protect an infant.

Around 28 January 2026, Officer Sushil Shikhare found a baby sleeping in a fragile structure made of wooden blocks and cloth, exposed to environmental hazards such as insects and passing traffic.

Concerned for the child’s welfare, he removed the unstable cradle initially causing alarm to the baby’s mother and promptly returned with a sturdy, ready-made cradle to ensure the infant’s safety, according to recent social media posts circulating across Instagram and Facebook.

Officials noted that the officer’s intervention was motivated by a duty to safeguard vulnerable citizens and uphold public safety standards during patrols. The action has since sparked praise online, even as authorities use it to highlight the human side of everyday policing in the city.

‘Humanity Meets Duty’ on Daily Patrols

During a regular footpath patrol through Khar’s bustling streets, Officer Shikhare’s attention was drawn to an improvised cradle set up directly on the pavement an area already burdened by heavy pedestrian traffic and limited space.

The structure, apparently constructed from wooden blocks and draped cloth, offered little protection from insects, dust, pollution or accidental knocks from passersby. Footpath encroachments like this are common in many parts of Mumbai, where informal settlements and street-side living arrangements often blur the line between public space and domestic use.

Visuals shared on social media show the officer gently lifting the makeshift cradle away from the pavement, prompting visible concern from the baby’s mother, who momentarily feared her child was being taken away without explanation.

Shikhare reassured her, returning shortly afterwards with a ready-made, sturdy cradle, clearly intended to replace the hazardous setup and allow the infant to rest in a safer environment. The exchange, captured in multiple short videos and posts on platforms including Instagram and Facebook, has been framed by commenters as a striking example of compassion in uniform, with many online users praising the officer’s initiative.

While formal statements from Mumbai Police have not yet been published in mainstream media outlets, posts circulating on official and semi-official police social accounts appear to reference Shikhare’s action in the context of broader foot patrol duties and citizen safety objectives. The videos underscore how everyday policing can intersect with community welfare in unexpected but meaningful ways.

Footpaths, Vulnerability and Public Safety: Broader Context

Mumbai’s footpaths are often sites of competing uses: pedestrians, hawkers, makeshift homes and temporary structures all vie for limited space. Civic authorities and courts have repeatedly highlighted the need for clear, safe walkways to reduce risks to vulnerable users, including children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Unsafe sleeping arrangements and informal childcare facilities on pavements have occasionally led to accidents or public outcry, underscoring the logistical and humanitarian challenges inherent in densely populated urban areas.

While this particular incident did not appear to result in any official complaint or civil action, it highlights the precarious conditions in which many families find themselves. Without adequate social support mechanisms or formal shelters, some parents resort to makeshift solutions for childcare even in busy public areas.

In this context, Shikhare’s gesture is being portrayed online not just as a one-off act of kindness, but as a symbol of how law enforcement can play a constructive role in addressing everyday public safety issues with empathy and care.

Local civic debates have also touched on footpath encroachment more broadly, with activists calling for balanced responses that protect both the rights of informal settlers and the safety of pedestrians. Mumbai’s municipal and police authorities often coordinate to clear obstructions while attempting to ensure that vulnerable populations are not placed at greater risk a delicate task in a city of over 20 million residents.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At The Logical Indian, we welcome stories that illuminate how compassion and civic duty can harmonise even within the routines of law enforcement.

Officer Shikhare’s action resonates because it transcends the stereotype of police work as merely punitive or enforcement-oriented; instead, it demonstrates how empathy and common-sense intervention can protect the most vulnerable among us without compromising duty.

In a time when public discourse often emphasises conflict and criticism, acts like these remind us of the human potential within our institutions.