Pune: Three men from Kanjarbhat community thrashed for running WhatsApp group opposing regressive practices

Three men from Kanjarbhat community were allegedly beaten up by some members of their own community for opposing regressive practices such as virginity test of brides when they had gone to attend a wedding. 

The three men are part of a WhatsApp group called 'Stop the V-Ritual' which they have formed to oppose the practice of determining the virginity of a bride on the wedding night. The group has around 40 members, most of them youths who have earned the ire of community leaders.

Some of the group’s members had gone to attend a wedding of a person from the same community in Pimpri on Sunday when three of them were attacked by a mob of 40 people.
The three victims were identified as Saurabh Machale, Prashant Tamachikar and Prashant Indrekar.

Following the incident, a case has been registered against people of the community in Pimpri police station. Police has also arrested two persons in this regard.

Speaking about the attack, Indrekar said, "As per the invitation, we had gone to attend the wedding. After attending the function, when we were leaving the venue, a group of people suddenly surrounded Saurabh and Prashant. Before they could realise anything, the mob started beating them. When I tried to save them, I was also attacked."

According to these youths, they had not gone there to oppose anybody. "The members of the community thought that we had gathered there to oppose the marriage but we had no such intention. However, after the marriage, the caste panchayat was organised and they took objection to our presence at the wedding. They claimed that we are carrying out anti-community activities and they attacked us," he said.

When contacted, senior police inspector Shreedhar Jadhav of Pimpri police station said, "We are seeking legal opinion to find out if the attackers can be booked under Maharashtra protection of people from  Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act.