PUNE — A visit to the historic Naneghat mountain pass in Maharashtra’s Pune district turned into a distressing experience for a Muslim family after they were allegedly subjected to communal harassment by a group of Hindu men. The incident, captured on video, has sparked widespread outrage on social media.
The incident occurred at Naneghat in Pune’s Junnar taluka, a popular tourist destination known for its ancient trade route and historical significance.
According to reports, the family was visiting the site when a group of men gathered nearby and began loudly singing “Goonj uthi hai Haldighati, ghodon ke in taapon se; veeron ki ye sena lekar, Rana ladta Mughalon se,” a song referencing the historic Battle of Haldighati between Maharana Pratap and the Mughal Empire. The group was seen clapping and chanting while standing close to the family.
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A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, with many users alleging that the performance was intended to intimidate the family because of their religious identity.
Users on X identified a man named Arya Patil as one of those present in the group. According to social media posts, Patil recorded the incident and later uploaded the video to his Instagram account, further amplifying it online.
The video has drawn sharp criticism online, with many users saying public spaces and tourist destinations should remain safe and welcoming for people irrespective of their religion.
Several social media users have urged the Maharashtra government and the Pune district administration to investigate the incident and take appropriate legal action if any wrongdoing is established.
Calling for an impartial probe, one X user wrote, “If any family is being threatened or targeted because of their religious identity, there should be a fair investigation into this.”
Another user commented, “All this upon seeing two women, one of whom is a child. The level of insecurity needs to be studied.”
As of the time of publication, neither the Pune district administration nor the Maharashtra Police had issued an official statement on the viral video. It also remains unclear whether a formal police complaint has been registered.
