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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
18 Sena (UBT) workers booked for public assault after slapping auto driver for ‘anti-Marathi' rant
MUMBAI: A day after a video of Shiv Sena (UBT) workers slapping and shaming a 36-year-old autorickshaw driver on a Virar street went viral, police on Monday booked 18 party members, including a woman, for the public assault that was filmed, shared, and unapologetically flaunted as a lesson in 'Marathi pride'. 18 Sena (UBT) workers booked for public assault after slapping auto driver for 'anti-Marathi' rant The victim, Raju Patwa, had been hunted down after his alleged 'anti-Marathi' rant against the language stirred outrage on social media last week. His slap—and the video of his forced apology—was seen by thousands by Sunday evening, prompting the Virar police to step in. 'We've verified the videos and registered an FIR,' a police officer confirmed. The 11 accused have been charged with unlawful assembly and assault under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The video of Patwa's so-called 'anti-Marathi' tirade turned him overnight from an unknown driver to a man targeted by local political workers, who vowed to 'teach him a lesson'. Their promise materialised on Saturday evening. In a video now circulating widely, Patwa is seen surrounded by Sena workers in Virar West, slapped across the face, and forced to apologise—first to the angry crowd and then specifically to a woman he had allegedly misbehaved with earlier. All of this unfolded in full public view, as phones recorded the moment for instant social media consumption. Party loyalists appeared unapologetic about the assault. 'Marathi is not just a language—it's our identity. Anyone insulting it will face consequences,' said a local Shiv Sainik, even as his colleagues proudly shared the assault video online. The trigger for the political manhunt reportedly dates back to an altercation last week when Patwa allegedly abused a Marathi-speaking man and his sister, declaring he wouldn't speak the language. The video of that exchange enraged local Sena (UBT) and MNS cadres alike, both of whom launched parallel efforts to track him down. This incident comes close on the heels of a similar language clash in Mira Road, where seven Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers were arrested last month for thrashing a shopkeeper who had spoken in Hindi. That attack had led to citywide protests and a police crackdown on MNS cadres.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS workers among 20 booked for assaulting auto driver over anti-Marathi remarks
Palghar: Police have registered a case against 20 persons, including office-bearers of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, for allegedly assaulting an autorickshaw driver in public in Virar over his anti-Marathi remarks and refusal to speak the language. Nobody was arrested, said a police official on Monday. The official said 13 of the 20 accused have been identified. A viral video showed the auto driver, Raju Patwa, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, being slapped by a group, including women, on a busy road near Virar railway station on July 12. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai He was forced to apologise to a man and his sister with whom he had allegedly misbehaved earlier, as well as to the entire state for "insulting" it and its linguistic and cultural heritage. Activists alleged that the driver had made derogatory remarks against the Marathi language, Maharashtra and Marathi icons. The attack on the driver was triggered by a video clip, which had surfaced on social media and drawn sharp reactions online and from local political groups. Virar city chief of the Shiv Sena (UBT) Uday Jadhav, who was present at the spot on Saturday, said anybody who insults the Marathi language, Maharashtra or Marathi people will get a reply in true Shiv Sena style. Amid outrage over the incident, police registered an FIR against 20 persons under sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 190 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object,) 191(2) (rioting), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 351(2) )(criminal intimidation). Provisions under the Maharashtra Police Act have also been invoked. The FIR was lodged by a police officer. "A group of around 20 individuals unlawfully assembled at the Marjetia Naka rickshaw stand in Virar on July 12. This assembly violated the prohibitory orders currently in force under directives from the MBVV (Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar) police commissioner," the officer said. He said the group, allegedly comprising activists and office-bearers of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, confronted rickshaw driver, Raju Patva. "They demanded that he speak Marathi, forced him to apologise, and then assaulted and threatened him," he added. He said nobody has been arrested so far as police are verifying the roles of each individual named in the FIR and investigating.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Auto driver thrashed for refusing to speak Marathi: 20 Sena UBT, MNS workers booked
Police in Virar area of Palghar district Sunday booked around 20 workers of Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for allegedly assaulting an autorickshaw driver over refusing to speak in Marathi. The police registered a suo motu FIR after the video of the assault, which happened on July 12, surfaced on social media. The autorickshaw driver was identified as Raju Patwa, who hails from Uttar Pradesh. A video of Patwa had surfaced on social media, last week, in which he refused to speak Marathi during an argument with a man and his sister. After the video went viral, Sena UBT workers along with its Virar unit chief Uday Jadhav and MNS members located Patwa at the rickshaw stand near the Virar railway station. As per the police complaint, the group, including the man and the sister with whom he had an argument, assaulted Patwa. They slapped him publicly and forced him to apologise to the man and the sister, and to the Marathi-speaking people, said a police officer. Taking cognisance of the incident, the police registered an FIR against 20 persons under sections 189(2) (Unlawful assembly), 190 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object,) 191(2) (Rioting), 115(2) (Voluntarily causing hurt), section 351(2) )(criminal intimidation) and relevant sections under the Maharashtra Police Act. Police are yet to make any arrests in the matter and are trying to identify attackers and ascertain their roles by scanning footages from CCTVs of nearby stores and from the viral videos. In a similar incident, members of MNS had slapped a sweet shop owner in Mira Road for refusing to speak in Marathi, which triggered protests by local traders against the attack. Later, MNS members and other political activists also took out a protest rally, despite police refusing them permission.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra: Uddhav Sena's men trace & assault autowala over Marathi
The autorickshaw driver was not only assaulted but also forced to apologise to a passenger with whom he had refused to speak in Marathi VASAI: Days after a video showing an autorickshaw driver's refusal to converse in Marathi had gone viral, the driver was traced and assaulted by a group of men, allegedly from Shiv Sena (UBT), Saturday afternoon. A case of rioting has been filed against at least eight people. The rickshaw driver, Raju Patwa who plies his vehicle from Virar (east) autorickshaw stand, had in the viral video defiantly said that he would speak only Bhojpuri and Hindi, and would not speak Marathi. The video went viral the day Maharashtra Navnirman Sena was to hold a rally in Mira Road last week. On Saturday, not only was the autorickshaw driver assaulted but he was also forced to apologise to a passenger to whom he had refused to speak Marathi. In a fresh video of Saturday, the rickshaw driver is seen apologising for his act, hands joined, while a group of men rain blows on him. Last week, the passenger, identified only as Bhavesh, was on his way to Virar station to drop off a relative when an autorickshaw brushed past him. Bhavesh told the driver in Marathi to be careful. The rickshaw driver responded in Hindi, saying he would "not speak Marathi" but would converse only in Hindi. Shiv Sena (UBT) neta from Vasai Virar, Uday Jadhav, who allegedly led the assault with his men, said that they had been scouting for the autorickshaw driver over the past week since the video had gone viral. "He has disrespected Marathi language [in the video]. We have now taught him a lesson... Anyone who disrespects the Marathi language will be taught a lesson in this manner. Senior inspector of Virar police station, Lalu Tare, said eight or nine have been booked for rioting and assault.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Sena UBT workers thrash auto driver, force him to apologise for 'anti-Marathi' comments
Mumbai: In yet another language-related violence in Maharashtra, an auto driver has been beaten up and forced to apologise by Shiv Sena (UBT) workers in Palghar district's Virar for 'anti-Marathi' comments. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Virar police on Sunday claimed that it hasn't received a formal complaint in the matter and hence no case has been registered. According to the video that has gone viral, arguments on overtaking snowballed into Marathi versus non-Marathi issues. While auto driver Raju Patwa, originally from UP, refused to speak in Marathi, he can also be heard saying: "Hindi Bolunga, Bhojpuri bolunga, par Marathi nahi bolunga, do what you want to do." It is alleged Patwa also made some derogatory remarks against the Marathi language, Maharashtra and Marathi icons. Apparently, those who had heated exchange with Patwa are from UP's Jhansi, but they are well-versed in Marathi. In the video, UBT Sena workers can be seen assaulting the auto driver. He is then made to apologise by saying, " I apologise to the people of Maharashtra for insulting Marathi." He is also made to touch the feet of the Marathi speaking lady passenger and then apologise in Marathi. Live Events
