Crimeophobia presents Aarey Report to Government of India’s “High-Level Committee on Demographic Change”

Published: 28/10/2026; Author: Sanjana Chavda

“With Crimeophobia’s Aarey Report now submitted to the Government of India’s High-Level Committee on Demographic Change, Aarey has become a case study highlighting the urgent need to advance India’s implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), an initiative Crimeophobia began pursuing a decade ago. The concerns warrant impartial examination of international commitments, fundamental rights and institutional accountability, including the role of international entities themselves. Our objective is to establish evidence, examine governance failures and assess potential impacts on rights, land and demographic patterns, leaving conclusions to competent authorities.” ~ Criminologist Snehil Dhall

Mumbai: A significant research initiative concerning Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai, has reached India’s national policy discourse, with Criminologist Snehil Dhall, Founder of Crimeophobia – A Criminology Firm, and Founding Trustee of the Ministry of Happiness Trust, presenting the initiative before the High-Level Committee on Demographic Change on 26 October 2026. The report has been submitted to the Committee for its consideration, marking an important milestone in a sustained research effort involving ground-level engagement, documentary examination and digital research.

Constituted by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a high-powered demographic mission, the Committee has been tasked with examining demographic change associated with illegal immigration and recommending appropriate policy, legislative and administrative measures. The submission brings a Mumbai-based research initiative into a national conversation with implications for governance, institutional coordination, population studies, public safety and the protection of vulnerable communities. For an international audience, the significance of this development extends beyond a single geographical location. Aarey represents the complexity often encountered in rapidly urbanising regions, where land administration, human & wildlife settlements, ecological protection, public infrastructure and security responsibilities intersect. Such settings call for reliable evidence, interdepartmental coordination, transparent administrative processes and an approach that respects the rights and dignity of all communities.

Crimeophobia’s engagement reflects the importance of sustained, multidisciplinary research in identifying issues that may warrant institutional examination. The submission has now been placed before the competent national body, and any further consideration, findings or recommendations remain within the Committee’s remit. No conclusions should be presumed before the relevant authorities have assessed the material. This milestone belongs not to one individual or institution alone, but to the wider network of contributors whose time, knowledge, observations and professional efforts have supported the research process. Crimeophobia extends its sincere appreciation to every intern, researcher, subject-matter expert, government official, private-sector professional, student, local resident and other contributor who participated in ground-level research, digital investigation, information gathering, documentary review and related research activities. Their collective contributions have helped bring together perspectives and information from different professional, institutional and community settings.

Special recognition is due to those who undertook the often-unseen work of examining records, documenting observations, following research leads, reviewing publicly available information, contributing local knowledge and supporting the organisation and assessment of material. Ground research and digital research are complementary disciplines; both require patience, diligence, analytical care and a commitment to distinguishing verifiable information from assumptions. The contribution of residents and local participants is particularly valuable in understanding the realities of a place, while the involvement of students, interns and researchers demonstrates the role of emerging scholars in supporting public-interest inquiry. The engagement of experts and officials, whether through professional knowledge, institutional experience or other research contributions, further illustrates the value of multidisciplinary collaboration.

Crimeophobia recognises all contributors, including those whose work took place behind the scenes and whose names may not appear in public communications. This acknowledgement is extended collectively and with gratitude, without implying that every contributor endorses every conclusion or position associated with the submitted report. Across jurisdictions, complex questions involving population change, land governance and public security require evidence-based assessment and legally sound administrative responses. Internationally recognised principles of good governance—including accountability, transparency, lawful procedure, protection of fundamental rights and respect for human dignity—remain essential when institutions examine sensitive demographic questions.

The value of research lies not simply in assembling information, but in enabling competent authorities to evaluate it responsibly. This requires careful verification, appropriate consideration of competing explanations, protection against unsupported allegations and respect for the rights of affected individuals and communities. Crimeophobia’s submission to the High-Level Committee should therefore be understood as a contribution to an ongoing institutional process, rather than as a declaration that any allegation has been established or that any particular outcome has been reached. The Committee and the authorities concerned retain responsibility for determining what further examination, if any, is warranted. For international observers, researchers and public-policy professionals, the initiative also highlights the importance of collaboration between field researchers, academic contributors, practitioners, residents and institutions. When conducted responsibly, such collaboration can strengthen the evidentiary foundations upon which public administration and policy decisions depend.

The submission on 26 October 2026 marks a significant point in Crimeophobia’s research engagement with Aarey and its wider governance context. It also recognises the collective effort required to bring a substantial research initiative to the attention of a national-level committee. Criminologist Snehil Dhall and the Crimeophobia team express their gratitude to everyone who contributed through research, professional expertise, field engagement, digital work, local knowledge and other forms of assistance. Their contribution is a reminder that meaningful public-interest research is rarely the work of one person: it is built through the sustained efforts of many individuals who bring different forms of knowledge and experience to a common undertaking. With the report now submitted, the next stage rests with the Committee and the competent authorities. Crimeophobia acknowledges the responsibility that accompanies such a submission and reiterates the importance of impartial assessment, evidence-led decision-making and lawful institutional action. The report has been submitted. The research effort is collective. The responsibility for assessment rests with the competent authorities.