A food stall owner in Bhayander, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district, was allegedly assaulted on Tuesday evening by a group of men reportedly linked to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for not responding in Marathi. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has triggered public outrage and raised fresh concerns about the use of force in the name of linguistic activism.
In the video, several men, some seen wearing scarves with MNS insignia are seen confronting the vendor. The confrontation reportedly began when one of the men insisted the vendor speak in Marathi while placing an order. When the vendor asked why he was being forced to do so, the situation quickly escalated. The video shows members of the group slapping the vendor multiple times in front of bystanders.
Following the incident, the Kashimira police have registered an FIR based on the vendor’s complaint. A police official confirmed that the case has been filed under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), invoking:
Section 115(2) – Voluntarily causing hurt
Section 351(2) – Criminal intimidation
Section 352 – Assault or use of criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation
“We are analysing CCTV footage and the viral video to identify the accused. No arrests have been made so far,” said a senior official from Kashimira police station.
The incident comes amid ongoing campaigns by MNS activists demanding greater use of Marathi in all public-facing businesses, including eateries, banks, and commercial establishments. While the party has maintained that the campaign is intended to promote the regional language, Tuesday’s assault has sparked sharp criticism across political and civil society circles.
“This kind of moral policing through violence is unacceptable in a democratic and multilingual society,” said a spokesperson from a Mumbai-based civil rights group. “Regional identity cannot be imposed by intimidation.”
Leaders from opposition parties have also condemned the assault and urged the state government to take strong action against the perpetrators. They emphasized the need to uphold the right of individuals to work and communicate in a language they are comfortable with, particularly in a cosmopolitan state like Maharashtra.
The police investigation is ongoing, and authorities have assured that those responsible will be identified and dealt with according to the law.