Mumbai: Autorickshaw driver arrested for killing man who mocked his walk

Mumbai: The Vanrai police have arrested an auto-rickshaw driver for allegedly brutally killing a 32-year-old man who mocked the suspect's limp walk.

The suspect was identified as Tej Bahadur Morya, 45, who lived in the same neighbourhood where the victim, Mukesh Zhanjare, resided. 

Suspect limped because of a physical disability caused by an accident

According to the police, Morya limps owing to a physical disability caused by an accident. The victim used to make fun of the suspect's walk whenever they came face to face. This irked Morya who had several fights with Zhanjare on the issue. 

On Tuesday night at around 11pm, the deceased was sitting near a Chinese restaurant at Hanuman Tekdi, Mulund Link Road in Goregaon East. Around the same time, Morya arrived there to pick up food and was spotted by Zhanjare who started mocking him. 

An enraged Morya took out a pocket knife and assaulted Zhanjare; madly stabbing him in the chest, stomach, ears, and in the face. The badly injured victim was rushed to the trauma centre in Jogeshwari where he succumbed to his injuries shortly. 

“The suspect has been booked under the Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder). He had no prior crime record. The victim has a drug-related case,” said the police official.

Regarding people losing their patience and ending up into violent acts because of body image issues, city-based psychologist Alisha Laljee said, “Most individuals with a physical disability have a lower self-esteem and self-concept, affecting their self-confidence. Being taunted on the same, acts as a trigger and they may end up reacting in a manner that is least expected.”