Thane man Waqar Anwar Shaikh arrested after waving machete outside Mumbai CSMT

A 22-year-old man from Thane was arrested after he brandished a sharp machete and threatened his girlfriend and bystanders in broad daylight outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai. The incident triggered panic and fear among commuters and pedestrians in the busy area, though no injuries were reported due to the swift intervention of the police.

The accused, identified as Waqar Anwar Shaikh, had reportedly traveled from Thane to the CSMT area along with his girlfriend for an outing. Following an argument between the two, Shaikh allegedly pulled out a sharp machete from his bag and began waving it around, threatening the woman as well as people present nearby.

At the same time, Police Constable Vishal Gade was on his way to report for duty at the Mumbai Police Headquarters when he noticed the accused brandishing the weapon. Displaying remarkable courage and presence of mind, Constable Gade approached the accused from behind, overpowered him, and gained control of the machete, thereby preventing a potentially serious incident.

Information about the incident was also received by the authorities through a post on the social media platform X. Upon receiving the information, Assistant Police Inspector Sandhya Nikam of the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Marg (MRA Marg) Police Station reached the spot with her team.

The police subsequently took the accused into custody, seized the weapon, and ensured the safety of the woman involved.

A preliminary inquiry revealed that the accused and the woman knew each other and that the incident stemmed from a personal dispute. Investigators have also found that the accused has a criminal history, with several cases previously registered against him. The MRA Marg Police have registered a case and arrested the accused. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind carrying the weapon and to verify his criminal antecedents.