19-year-old stabbed in Mumbai as rap battle turns bloody; two arrested

What began as a rap practice session at a Mankhurd ground turned into a violent confrontation, with a 19-year-old boy allegedly stabbed in the neck.

What began as a rap practice session at a Mankhurd ground turned into a violent confrontation, with a 19-year-old boy allegedly stabbed in the neck and chin and attacked with a belt and wooden plank. The teenager is now in critical condition, while the Mankhurd police have arrested two persons and booked four in an attempted murder case.

“The other group got angry and started abusing them. They later assaulted them,” said a police officer. (Pexel)

The incident took place on Monday at Chikuwadi Ground, where 19-year-old Shiva Kashyap, a resident of Mandala in Mankhurd and an HSC student of Oriental College, Sanpada, was practising rap music with his friend Vikas Vishwakarma.

According to the police, another group, comprising Uday Mande, Riyan Shaikh and others, was also practising rap at the ground. Shiva and Vikas approached the group to inquire about their practice, but the interaction soon turned hostile. “The other group got angry and started abusing them. They later assaulted them,” said a police officer.

Police said Mande allegedly pulled out a knife and attacked Shiva, first aiming for his neck. However, as Shiva moved, the blow landed near his chin. Mande allegedly attempted to strike him in the chest a second time, but Shiva grabbed the knife with his hands, sustaining injuries in the process.

The attack then escalated further. Another accused, Rehan Shaikh, allegedly removed his belt and assaulted both Shiva and Vikas, while two other unidentified accused allegedly joined in and attacked them with a wooden plank.

The assault came to an end only after members of the public began gathering after hearing the victims’ cries for help, following which the accused fled the spot.

The Mankhurd police have registered a case under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Police have arrested two of the accused, Uday Mande and Riyan Shaikh, in connection with the attack. Shiva remains critical.