From Neglect to Revival: Crimeophobia supports Aarey Youth to Turn Conflict Zone into Cultural Landmark by establishing Sanatani-Origin Martial Arts Centre

Mumbai (04/11/2025): In a remarkable turn of events, the residents of Aarey Colony had succeeded in shutting down the controversial multi-story toilet facility that was illegally constructed next to a revered temple. The move comes after several years of public outrage and investigative reporting by Crimeophobia, which first exposed the “Toilet Scam” involving political interference, misappropriation of public funds, and disregard for community sentiments. The multi-storey toilet, which had remained shut for more than two years, eventually had to be reopened with the consent of the local residents — a sentiment the BMC repeatedly failed to honour.

Following Crimeophobia’s intervention, Criminologist Snehil Dhall worked closely with the residents to find a lawful and peaceful resolution to the dispute, ensuring protection for locals who had long lived under political pressure and fear of retaliation. This effort led to the establishment of the “Aarey Youth Sports Sangh,” a community-driven initiative aimed at transforming the disputed site into a symbol of cultural and spiritual unity. The organisation created a physical and symbolic barrier between the temple and the defunct toilet facility, converting the intervening space into a vibrant Sanatani-origin Martial Arts Centre under the banner of the “Aarey Youth Sports Sangh.” This newly inaugurated centre will now serve as a hub for the ancient Indian martial art form Kalaripayattu, originally practiced in Southern India. Its revival marks a significant cultural shift, drawing widespread national attention as an authentic indigenous alternative to foreign martial arts like Kung Fu and Karate.

The inauguration ceremony, led by local residents and attended by Criminologist Snehil Dhall as Chief Guest along with members of Hindu organisations, was marked by a traditional Shastra Puja — an essential Sanatani ritual symbolizing respect for weapons, discipline, and divine protection. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from youth, community elders, and local civil society members who had long protested against the misuse of public land for politically motivated construction. The event was supported by Amit Gogate – Dharm Jagran Sanyojak, Milian Telang – BJP, and Kugan Raj – Tamil Pariyogana Pramukh who were the Guest of Honour.

The inauguration was headed by Suresh Ayampillai, Selvakumar, Vengadesh, Mani, Sathish, Ravi, Ragu, Kannan, Sureya, Veera, Bala, Arivalagan, Vijay, Ajith, Yeski, Jay Krishna, Amarvel, Sathi, Gopal, Balamurugan, Murthi, Dilip, Mutthu, Karthik, Sanjay, Danush, Sasi, Daran, Sumith, and Sureya. The locals have now identified themselves as members of the Leopard Group, which has been protecting the leopards that represent the world’s largest wildlife population living within a metropolitan city since several decades. This group has also been supported by Crimeophobia as it was a conceptualised by Criminologist Snehil Dhall for easing the communication barriers between local residents and the government organisations.

The group is dedicated to environmental conservation, protecting wildlife and addressing local issues affecting the residents of Aarey. Suresh, who heads the Leopard Group, stated: “While many so-called organisations superficially claim to work in favour of Aarey’s environment and wildlife, none of them live in Aarey. We at Leopard Group are the indigenous local residents who not only live inside the forest but also protect it without relying on newspaper articles like the other so-called environmental organisations that create ruckus in Aarey. Ask them to live with leopards and they will understand what Aarey needs.” The Leopard Group is one of the only local resident organisation which had the expertise of Human-Wildlife conflicts as they deal with it as part of their routine lifestyle.

Speaking at the event, Dhall emphasized the importance of blending justice, culture, and community empowerment, saying: “This initiative is not merely about creating a sports centre between a toilet and a temple. This act makes a strong statement by the locals that they will not tolerate disrespectful acts against Hindu sentiments and temples, which has become a norm due to left-wing ideologies. When law, culture, and community align, crime has no space to thrive.”

Today, the Aarey Youth Sports Sangh stands as a beacon of social reform, demonstrating how civic engagement and lawful activism can transform a site of conflict into one of pride and progress. With structured training programs in Kalaripayattu and self-defence for both men and women, the centre promotes physical fitness, mental discipline, and cultural revival among the youth of Aarey Colony. What was once a symbol of political rivalry and administrative negligence has now become a thriving centre for cultural resurgence — proving how collective action and legal intervention can restore harmony. The shuttered toilet, once a representation of corruption, now stands as a reminder of the power of truth and community willpower when guided by ethical leadership. The message conveyed by the locals was unequivocal: Hindus will not tolerate disrespectful acts against their temple and deities.

As Crimeophobia continues to monitor the region’s development, this transformation from a Toilet Scam to a Temple-Sports Renaissance in Aarey Colony stands as a model of restorative civic action — demonstrating that justice rooted in community and culture can bring even the most unpleasant disputes to a dignified conclusion.