In a shocking incident that occurred on June 10, 2023, residents of a Mumbai society have raised serious concerns regarding the behaviour of a carpenter hired through the popular online portal ‘Urban Company.’ The incident, reported by the parents of two children, has caused anxiety among the society members, who are now seeking swift action from the authorities.
According to the complaint submitted by the parents with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 12, a carpenter named Irfan Ahmed was hired through the online platform ‘Urban Company’ to perform carpentry work in one of the society’s flats. Irfan Ahmed arrived at the building at 9:40 am, and finished his work at approximately 10:45 am. After finishing his work, he left the flat and entered the building’s lift.
Inside the lift, there were two children already, who greeted Irfan, but expressed their lack of familiarity with him. In a distressing response, Irfan allegedly remarked, “You will start knowing me in a while. I’m a Muslim, and as I’m going to brainwash you, will you convert to Islam from Hinduism? Come with me.” The children got scared and quickly exited the lift on the third floor.
Later that day, one of the children saw Irfan standing outside the building while the child was heading to his classes. Irfan loudly said “Mere bacche, Mere paas aaja”. The child got really very scared after hearing this and he ran away to the neighbouring building where his classes were located. After returning home, the child narrated the entire incident to his parents, who were shocked. Seeking justice and ensuring the safety of their kids as well as others living in the society, the parents gathered other concerned tenants living in the society, collected CCTV footage from the building, and took note of Irfan’s contact details.
The parents, along with both children, rushed to Vanrai Police Station to report the incident. They informed Mr. Shinde, the officer on duty, who pretended to contact Irfan but failed to reach him. Despite providing Irfan’s contact details and sharing CCTV evidence, it appears that no immediate action was taken by the police.
Dismayed by the lack of response, the parents decided to escalate the matter and approached a senior officer named Mr. Rajbhar, sharing their concerns. Mr. Rajbhar assured the parents that he would take appropriate action and contact them soon. However, no action has been taken thus far, leaving the parents feeling anxious and fearful for their safety.
The CCTV footage reportedly shows Irfan holding an unidentified object, which he swiftly concealed in his pocket after the children ran away. Concerned parents speculate that the object might have been drugs or sleeping pills, further deepening their worries.
A copy of the parents’ written complaint has been sent to various authorities, including the Commissioner of Mumbai Police, the Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police, the Human Rights Commission, and the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Mumbai, urging them to investigate the incident thoroughly and take immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of the society’s residents.
The parents remain hopeful that the authorities will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and take necessary steps to address their concerns promptly. Meanwhile, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and security of online service providers and the need for stringent background checks and vetting procedures for professionals engaged in home services.
The society residents anxiously await a resolution to this distressing incident, hopeful that the authorities will swiftly bring the alleged perpetrator to justice.
