Maharashtra Police Register Case after Brutal Caste-Based Assault, 3 Arrested so Far

A shocking caste-based assault unfolded on October 19, 2025, in Sonai village when a group of 11 men allegedly kidnapped, brutally beat, urinated on, and hurled slurs at a 22-year-old man from the Matang community, prompting swift police action and arrests. The victim, identified as Sanjay Vairagar, was standing near a local hospital with a friend when the main accused, Sambhaji Lande—driven by a prior rivalry—arrived with his accomplices. They rained kicks, punches, and stick blows on Vairagar, assaulted his intervening friend, bundled him into a black Scorpio SUV, and drove to a secluded spot for further torment lasting an hour before dumping him near a college ground. Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping, causing hurt with dangerous weapons, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Vairagar, sustaining severe injuries including multiple fractures from having a motorcycle allegedly run over his limbs and significant eye damage, was rushed to a local hospital by his parents before referral to the district's Civil Hospital in Ahmednagar for advanced treatment. Three accused, including Lande, have been arrested, with raids ongoing to apprehend the remaining eight. The incident, reported on October 24, highlights persistent caste tensions in Newasa tehsil, a region previously marred by atrocities like the 2013 "honour" killings of three Dalit youths in Sonai, where six were convicted. Authorities have intensified patrols amid community outrage, vowing a thorough investigation to prevent escalation.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar condemned the brutality, demanding invocation of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the perpetrators. In an X post on October 23, Ambedkar, who spoke directly to Vairagar's father, assured full support to the family and pledged a personal visit, stating, “Our demand is that action be taken against the accused under MCOCA.” His intervention underscores the political undercurrents, as VBA positions itself as a Dalit voice ahead of Maharashtra's assembly polls.

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This case reignites debates on caste violence in rural Maharashtra, where economic rivalries often intersect with social hierarchies. With the Matang community—classified as a Denotified Tribe—facing historical marginalisation, activists urge stricter enforcement of anti-atrocity laws and fast-track courts. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on victim rehabilitation, including medical aid and compensation, while police assure no leniency, aiming to deter future incidents in this agriculturally vital but socially volatile tehsil.

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