The Vasai police have registered a case and launched a manhunt for the youth who damaged the martyred soldiers’ memorial stone by carving an ‘S’ on it and setting it on fire to make a social media video reel. Officers from the Vasai police also seized ash from the damaged stone and sent it to the forensic laboratory to ascertain which chemical was used to set the stone ablaze.

mid-day highlighted the incident in its May 22 edition with the story: ‘Outrage as youth damages memorial stone in Vasai Fort’. Following the mid-day report, officers from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) swung into action and conducted investigations into this matter. They identified Hasim Shaikh, who posted the video on Instagram with the song ‘Bewafa’ in the background, after which the Vasai police was informed and an FIR registered in the matter.