3 min learnPuneUp to date: Sep 3, 2026 07:12 PM IST
Pune resident Vidyanand Bapat, who has been campaigning in opposition to using DJs and loudspeakers throughout Ganeshotsav and different public festivals, was assaulted on Thursday whereas chatting with a information channel. Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated the attacker had been arrested and was being charged with cognizable non-bailable offences.
The incident, which befell whereas Bapat was giving a stay interview to the TV channel on Tilak Highway. The assault was caught on digicam with the assaulter abusing and hitting Bapat.
Bapat has been vocal in latest days in regards to the want for banning loudspeakers and dhol tashas throughout public celebrations, arguing that noise air pollution throughout festivals must be curbed.
Pune Police Commissioner chatting with media stated, “We’re within the technique of recording the assertion. On this case a cognizable and non-bailable case is being filed. The accused is in police custody and the method to arrest him will likely be initiated after the FIR is filed. The accused will likely be offered in courtroom tomorrow and we’re going to ask for PCR (Police custody remand).”
“The police have taken this extraordinarily severely and there will likely be strict motion in opposition to the accused. It’s an especially condemnable incident of violence,” he remarked. Kumar added that Bapat was being supplied round the clock police safety. He stated that at a gathering with him Ganesh mandals had additionally ‘unanimously’ denounced the assault.
The assault was condemned by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He stated, “Violence like this isn’t right. Everybody has a proper to say their opinion. To assault somebody whereas he’s opining isn’t right. Police has arrested the accused.”
The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) additionally condemned the assault on Bapat. In an announcement it stated, “If anybody disagrees with Bapat’s place, they need to current their views primarily based on details. Resorting to bodily violence when unable to refute factors is a extremely harmful pattern. If an individual talking out in opposition to noise air pollution is assaulted at the moment, tomorrow any citizen may worry elevating their voice in opposition to injustice, superstition, air pollution, corruption, or public malpractices.”
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Furthermore, reacting to the incident, Congress chief Prashant Jagtap stated, “Bapat has been representing the considerations of Pune residents at giant and doesn’t oppose non secular festivals, solely the excesses related to DJ use.”
Jagtap alleged that, “The ruling social gathering has emboldened such assaults by failing to help voices like Bapat’s, and stated the assault displays rising highhandedness below the social gathering’s rule within the metropolis.”
BJP and NCP(SP) leaders additionally arrived on the Faraskhana police station to lend help to Bapat.
