Independent Journalist Beaten for Reporting Illegal Land Encroachments in Pune
On 4 July 2024, Sneha Barve, a 27-year-old independent journalist, was brutally attacked in Nighotwadi village, Pune, India, while reporting on illegal land encroachment near a riverbed.
The assault, which involved multiple assailants using rods and other weapons, left Barve with severe injuries to her back, arms, and head. A chilling video of the incident later surfaced online, showing Barve helpless on the ground while being beaten.
Despite the graphic nature of the attack, the police response has been widely criticised as inadequate. While five men were arrested, they were subsequently released on bail.
The main accused, Pandurang Morde, remains at large, with the police citing a foot injury as the reason for his non-arrest. This explanation has been met with scepticism, raising concerns about potential police misconduct or interference from powerful individuals.
Barve’s reporting focused on the construction of tin sheds on government land illegally occupied by local goons. Her investigation appears to have exposed a complex web of land grabbing and potentially political connections.
She had previously faced threats and intimidation from individuals believed to have links with a local politician, Shivaji Adharau Patil, even releasing a viral call recording of such threats prior to the attack.