Mumbai: Kalina cries for its hero Bhupendra Vira

A banner in Kalina by the umbrella organisation of ALMs to show solidarity with deceased RTI activist Bhupendra ViraNumerous activists have come to show solidarity with the small Kalina community that lost the man fighting for it mdash RTI activist Bhupinder Vira who was shot dead in his Kalina home on Sunday Virarsquos funeral on Sunday evening saw a large gathering of activists from all across the city They plan to meet Additional CP Western region Chhering Dorje today with what they call an lsquoactivistsrsquo petitionrsquoThe onepage petition raises several questions Is the law not sufficient or is the law not enforced how can activists live in a society which is filled more with members of the mafia and ganglords than lawabiding citizens should activists stop looking towards the government or police for their protection and form their own security forcerdquoSticking their necks outClarence Pinto of Voice of Kalina VOK an umbrella organisation formed in 2011 to unite Area Locality Management ALM arms said ldquoThere is strength in numbers Together we were fighting encroachments civic problems like bad roads and potholes and many other issues We thought together we could fight illegal construction and the land mafia but we are up against very powerful elementsrdquoAlso Read Mumbai Crime Kalina RTI activist shot dead in cold blood two arrestedPinto said the initial shock at Virarsquos murder has been replaced by ldquosmouldering angerrdquo ldquoThere is intense pressure on activists to stop challenging what we call the system We have our own thoughts we have families who say lsquosit quietly and eat your bread rsquonrsquo butter Why are you breaking your head with all thisrsquordquo he said adding that this will be a setback but there are activists who still believe that somebody has to make that sacrificeldquoThat somebody could be people like usrdquoVOK founder Loy Dias who came to Kalina in 1971 said ldquoDemographically Kalina is divided into different pockets mdash therersquos Kalina Village and Kolaveri Village where we have East Indians the true sons of the soil living in small homes Builders have been eyeing these homes to bring highrises in their place We are only fighting against illegalities We the activists do stick our necks out but I canrsquot help feeling that if the police and authorities were more vigilant we would not have to do this at allrdquoWorried familiesDias brings up the petition they are taking to the police this evening ldquoItrsquos under the VOK letterhead but it is a petition from all activists We were happy to see so many at Virarsquos funeral on Sunday grieving yet supportive We will continue to challenge the systemrdquo he said but did admit that his daughter and her husband have been warning him against it ldquoBut activism is in my blood I hope this will push more people from here to join in the fight There are many who think that others should fight for themrdquoRead Story Slain activist Bhupendra Vira had secured 100 notices in 6 months against illegal structures in KalinaFor Crompton Texeira an activist and Kalina resident since the 1940s ldquoproblems have been escalatingrdquo ldquoI live only 50 metres away from where Vira lived We are both from Kalina Village These incidents can kill the body but not the soulrdquo he said also admitting that his son too has been warning him to stay away from getting involved in thisA lonely roadFor Robin Viegas from the Vidyanagari Parisar ALM which comes under VOK ldquoThis feeling is different from any setback I have seen in Kalina since I have lived here for 40 years Today we are meeting the police with one aim to tell them that not all activists are extortionists Since Sunday activists have come to the realisation that in this kind of work death is a very real threat You could be the next targetrdquoViegas said activism is a lonely road Activists who call this ldquomartyrdom for Kalinardquo are feeling their mortality more than ever today They have learnt that when the gun is pointed at your head it is then that you know you are truly alone