Mumbai Police Detain 20 to 25 at Wakode Vigil

Mumbai Police detained about 20 to 25 people at a candlelight vigil for Sahil Wakode at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar on October 25, saying the gathering lacked permission. Protesters alleged that officers used force while taking participants into custody, including women. Police did not address those allegations in their reported statements. The gathering was called to pay tribute to Wakode, an Indian Institute of Technology Bombay student found dead in his hostel room on September 18, and to demand an investigation into his death. Police said they detained participants at the vigil and took them to police stations. Those held were later released from stations in Tardeo, Worli and Dadar. Stand-up comedian Masoom Rajwani was among those detained. He posted video of police personnel trying to take him into custody and alleged that officers used force. Other participants also described forceful treatment. Their accounts remain allegations; the reported police explanation was that the gathering was unauthorised, not a response to claims of misconduct. The vigil took place amid an ongoing investigation into Wakode’s death. His family has alleged that he faced caste-based harassment at...