Navi Mumbai: A 20-year-old student was allegedly assaulted by four of his classmates, including one who struck him on the head with a hockey stick, after he insisted they respond in Marathi during a WhatsApp group chat. The incident took place outside I.C.L.E.S. Motilal Jhunjhunwala College in Sector 9, Vashi, on July 21 around 10:30 AM.
The victim, Suraj Vitthal Pawar, a third-year B.Sc. IT student, was attacked on the footpath outside the college gate. According to his police complaint, the attack was led by his classmate Faizan Naik (20), who allegedly got into an argument with Pawar over the use of Marathi in their class WhatsApp group named SYIT (ICL).
The dispute began when Pawar posted a light-hearted message on the group, to which Faizan responded in Hindi. Pawar replied that he should speak in Marathi, joking that “MNS would come after you otherwise.” This led to a heated exchange of messages between the two.
The next day, Naik and three unidentified individuals confronted Pawar outside the college. During the confrontation, Khan allegedly questioned, “Why should I speak in Marathi?” before striking Pawar on the head with a hockey stick. The three others reportedly punched and abused him, according to the complaint.
Pawar sought treatment at the Navi Mumbai Municipal Hospital but initially claimed he had fallen on his own, after receiving a threatening phone call warning him not to approach the police. Fearing further harm, he later decided to file an official complaint at the Vashi Police Station.
Vashi Police have registered an FIR under relevant sections for assault, criminal intimidation, and causing hurt. “Investigations into the identities of the three other accused are underway,” a police officer from Vashi police station said. Meanwhile, MNS has taken up the issue and also visited police station on Thursday demanding strict action against Naik and others for assaulting Pawar.
