Mumbai Police nab Mahim stabbing accused after 100-camera CCTV hunt
Synopsis
Mumbai Police cracked a three-day manhunt by combing through more than 100 CCTV cameras — all to catch a 19-year-old who allegedly stabbed a man for accidentally bumping into him outside Mahim Railway Station. The arrest lands days after another fatal stabbing on a moving Mumbai local, raising urgent questions about violence on and around the city's lifeline network.
Key Takeaways
Anas Ansari , 19 , was arrested from Wadala on 29 June after a three-day manhunt by Mahim Police .
The accused allegedly stabbed Naveen Prasanna , 35 , outside Mahim Railway Station on the night of 25 June following an accidental bump.
Police reviewed footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras to trace Ansari's movements to Wadala .
The knife used in the attack has not been recovered; Ansari is believed to have discarded it after fleeing.
Ansari faces charges under Sections 109(1), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
The case follows the alleged stabbing death of Mayank Lohar on a moving Mumbai local train on 22 June , pointing to a spike in rail-linked violence.
Mahim Police arrested 19-year-old Anas Ansari on 29 June in connection with a knife attack on Naveen Prasanna, a 35-year-old office worker, outside Mahim Railway Station in Mumbai — ending a three-day manhunt that involved reviewing footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras. Ansari, originally from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended from the Wadala area and is currently under interrogation.
How the Attack Unfolded
On the night of 25 June, at around 10 pm, Prasanna was walking through Mahim Railway Station after commuting from Lower Parel, where he works as an office boy at a private company. He accidentally bumped into another man, causing the latter's mobile phone to fall. Despite Prasanna's immediate apology, the accused allegedly flew into a rage, chased him, and stabbed him with a knife, inflicting serious injuries. Prasanna was rushed to Sion Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
The Surveillance Operation
A senior police official confirmed that investigators combed through footage from over 100 CCTV cameras to reconstruct Ansari's movements after the attack. The trail led police to Wadala, where he was arrested. The knife used in the assault has not yet been recovered; investigators believe Ansari discarded it after fleeing the scene, and efforts to locate the weapon are ongoing.
Charges Filed
A case has been registered against Ansari under Sections 109(1), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He had been absconding since the incident on 25 June before his arrest three days later.
A Pattern of Violence on Mumbai's Rail Network
This arrest comes amid growing alarm over knife attacks linked to Mumbai's local train network. On 22 June, 22-year-old Mayank Lohar was allegedly stabbed to death inside a moving local train after an argument with Roshan Suvarna, 30, over whether the coach door should remain open during heavy rain. According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the altercation began after both men boarded at Andheri station and escalated as the train travelled between Andheri and Borivali. Suvarna was later arrested from Kurla following a citywide manhunt involving six Railway Police teams. The two incidents within days of each other have intensified scrutiny of public safety on and around Mumbai's suburban rail system.
With Ansari in custody, police are expected to file a chargesheet after completing their investigation, including the recovery of the alleged weapon.
Point of View
One near-fatal — both triggered by trivial disputes on or near Mumbai's suburban rail network, is not coincidence; it is a pattern that demands a structural response. The 100-camera CCTV sweep that caught Ansari is impressive police work, but it is reactive. Mumbai's local train system moves over seven million people daily with minimal security infrastructure at station exits. The real question authorities must answer is not just who committed these attacks, but why de-escalation at the point of conflict remains so absent — and whether dedicated Railway Police presence at high-footfall stations can change that calculus before the next incident.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Mahim Railway Station stabbing case?
Anas Ansari , a 19-year-old originally from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh , was arrested from Wadala in Mumbai on 29 June . He had been absconding for three days after allegedly stabbing Naveen Prasanna near Mahim Railway Station on the night of 25 June .
What triggered the stabbing near Mahim Railway Station?
According to police, the victim Naveen Prasanna accidentally bumped into the accused while walking through the station, causing the accused's mobile phone to fall. Despite Prasanna's immediate apology, the accused allegedly chased and stabbed him with a knife.
How did Mumbai Police track down the accused?
Investigators reviewed footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras to trace the accused's movements after the attack. The surveillance trail led police to Wadala , where Anas Ansari was apprehended.
What charges have been filed against Anas Ansari?
Ansari has been charged under Sections 109(1), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) . The knife allegedly used in the attack has not yet been recovered, and the investigation is ongoing.
Is the Mahim stabbing connected to the recent local train stabbing case?
The two cases are separate incidents. On 22 June , Mayank Lohar , 22 , was allegedly stabbed to death inside a moving Mumbai local train by Roshan Suvarna following an argument. The back-to-back incidents have heightened concerns about knife violence linked to Mumbai's suburban rail network.
