“No family must have to endure what we have gone through in the past ten days,” a stoic Falguni Mohini told Indian Weekender, just a week after the tragedy that struck her loving, close-knit family. “Nothing will bring Hiren back but the killer must be brought to justice so that no other life is lost. I appeal to the community for all help in identifying and apprehending those responsible.”
Auckland’s Indian community, which has rallied around the family ever since news of the gruesome tragedy broke, is disappointed and angry at the senseless killing of a loving husband, doting father, devoted son and great friend and colleague to many.
Hiren Mohini died of injuries inflicted on him by his killer passenger in the early hours of February 1. He was tearfully farewelled on last Thursday (February 4) at West Auckland’s Waikumete cemetery and crematorium by family members who were joined by hundreds of colleagues, friends and neighbours.
Dozens of taxis joined the funeral cortege from the Mohinis’ Mount Roskill residence en route to Waikumete. Among family who paid their respects were Falguni, daughters Yashvi, 5 and Hetvi, 2, his mother Vasantiben and relatives who had just arrived from India besides those already living in New Zealand.
“I would estimate 300-400 taxis and more than 1200 people at the funeral. The chapel was so full that I could not get in, so I was in the other chapel watching the proceedings on close circuit TV,” said one time colleague Vinay Grover.
Close relative Ashish Mohini told Indian Weekender that the response from neighbours, colleagues, friends and the community at large was overwhelming and reassuring at the time of such sudden shock and grief. Both Mr Mohini and Falguni felt that when the killer must be brought to justice with the strongest sentencing prevalent under New Zealand law to prevent a repeat of the incident.
Thirty-nine-year-old Hiren had picked up a fare in downtown Auckland and the incident that claimed his life took place on View Road, off Dominion Road in the Mount Eden area abut 1.20 am on February 1.
His taxi crashed into a wall and a tree after his passenger savagely stabbed him in the neck and chest. The crash woke nearby residents who rushed to the scene to extricate Hiren from the wreck of his taxi.
His injuries were so severe that though professional medical help arrived within six or seven minutes of the crash, paramedics were not able to revive him while he was being transferred into the ambulance bound for the hospital: he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Police described the attack as vicious and one that would even shock criminals.
Some of his colleagues rushed to the scene of the accident immediately on hearing of it on the company’s communication system as Mr Mohini had apparently pressed his taxi’s panic button in his final moments and also tried calling a friend on his mobile phone.
A man was reportedly seen running away from the scene immediately after the incident and some time later a bloodied bag was found near the scene of the incident. Police also released stills from video footage of a man carrying a similar bag that was caught on city cameras on the night of Mr Mohini’s murder. Over 40 police officers have been drafted into the investigations and pictures of a cap found in the bag have also been released to the media.
As the Mohinis awaited the arrival of family members from India, friends, neighbours and taxi company colleagues poured into the Davis Funeral Home on Dominion Road throughout Tuesday and Wednesday by the hundreds to pay respects to the departed soul.
Wife Falguni and mother Vasantiben visited the site of the crash, which over the next couple of days had already been turned into a shrine with dozens of floral tributes. They spent a few quite moments at the spot where Mr Mohini’s life had ebbed away.
National Party MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi who visited the driver's family told Indian Weekender he had apprised his parliamentary colleagues and ministers about the developments and that Transport Minister Steven Joyce would soon call a meeting with all concerned to address the security problems faced by taxi drivers.
Minister of Ethnic Affairs Pansy Wong and Labour MP for Mount Roskill Phil Goff also paid condolence visits to the bereaved family, as did leaders from the Global Organisation of Persons of Indian Origin (GOPIO).
They have assured that the safety concerns of the taxi drivers would be addressed at the earliest opportunity.
Mr Mohini had moved to New Zealand from Mumbai in 2003, his close friend and schoolmate from Goregaon, Mumbai, Sachin Jadhav, told Indian Weekender. He said he was driving his taxi for the past three to four years.
Another colleague, Shane, said Mr Mohini was one of the quietest blokes he knew and that he was always courteous and respectful. “If money is what the attacker wanted, he could have simply asked – and Hiren would have handed it to him with no hesitation,” he said.
Taxi driver Chittaranjan said this incident once again highlighted how risky driving taxis in Auckland could be. It strengthens the case for some sort of physical barrier between the driver and the passengers as a deterrent as is seen in many of the world’s big cities, he said.
Authorities had repeatedly stonewalled previous appeals for such measures and wanted to raise the issue once again the drivers said. A meeting with Transport Minister Steven Joyce is in the offing.
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Community, colleagues, friends speaks out …
To give the taxi drivers additional safety when working during the late night and early morning hours, it should be made mandatory for every taxi to have a driver protection screen. As of now government's 50 per cent subsidy on the cost of the screen, camera will be more helpful and will speed up the process. Australian Government responded properly and giving 50 per cent subsidy to the taxi drivers since 2008. Our focus at this time is on ensuring that Mr Mohini's family has all the support it needs. This is a terrible tragedy for the Mohini family, and we want to ensure that the burden they bear can be reduced as much as possible into the future.
- Sitaram Salvaji, colleague
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Hiren and myself were working together for Greenacres [before his taxi business]. Both of us had the lawn moving business and we were in touch with each other quite often. I was there till the end of the funeral until his family went home. I’ve run out of words for the respect and unity that people have shown. All the while I was just thinking about Hiren’s kids, Falguni and his mom. After everyone finished paying their tributes to this father, husband, brother and son, we got a chance to get his last glimpse, so all of us queued up to see him. That is when I saw his mom and Falguni. I could see the pain in their eyes, which was something that could never be healed. I could feel as if they wanted to burst out in tears but were controlling it so well. I felt like hugging his mom and telling her that her younger son is still here but did not have the guts to do that. But I do promise that I shall visit them in the next week and take up my responsibilities though I would not make it public.
- Vinay Grover, friend and former co-worker
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Hiren was my regular customer since I started my business on caravan (Soul Curry) next to Yogiji's. Being a very friendly and talkative person, wherever we met, we used to talk for a while. Always compassionate, he used to enquire about my newly started restaurant (Curry Mantra), give some suggestions, talk about Mumbai food. He would enjoy food with his family particularly wada-pav and misal. He used to say 'because of your food we don't miss India now'. I remember after visiting India last year, he was missing 'veg makhani' and asked my chef to make one for him. He had created that niche of goodwill that we never ever felt hesitant about his small demand and my chef made it happily just for him. When news about his sad demise flashed, it was a mixed feeling of anger, disbelief and sorrow. Yes me, and my staff will miss Hiren, a very good person, a gentleman.
- Makarand Karkhanis, restaurant owner and friend
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The Yashvi Mohini and Hetvi Mohini Trust Account has been set up by family and friends. Auckland Co-Op Taxis is also collecting donations on its website.
The details:
The Yashvi and Hetvi Mohini Trust Account: Direct credit donations to 06-0284-0165500-00
or via cooptaxi.co.nz
Cash donations can be made at any National Bank.
The Hiren Mohini Appeal Fund, set up by the NZ taxi federation: Direct credit donations to 03-0175-0228509-00.
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