A tragic incident unfolded in Maharashtra's Thane district where 19-year-old college student Arnav Khaire died by suicide after being severely assaulted during a Hindi-Marathi language dispute on a local train. Arnav, a resident of Kalyan East and a first-year science student at Kelkar College in Mulund, reportedly faced violent backlash from a group of four to five people while commuting to his college.

According to his father, Jitendra Khaire, Arnav was thrashed for speaking Hindi, with assailants questioning his choice of language and accusing him of being ashamed to speak Marathi. The assault occurred on November 18 in a crowded local train, where the harassment escalated into physical violence. Deeply distressed, Arnav later confided in his father about feeling anxious and fearful following the incident.

After returning home that evening, Arnav tragically took his own life by hanging himself inside his residence. His father discovered the incident and immediately rushed him to Rukminibai Hospital, where Arnav was declared dead. The family and local community have expressed profound shock and grief over the loss, highlighting the mental trauma Arnav endured after the assault.

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The Kolsewadi Police have registered a case of accidental death and launched an investigation into the assault. Authorities are actively searching for the accused assailants, while also reviewing CCTV footage and collecting witness statements. The incident has ignited conversations about rising linguistic tensions in Maharashtra, with calls for stronger measures to curb hate-motivated violence on public transport.

Arnav’s heartbreaking death underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, empathy, and protective laws against such targeted harassment, particularly within India's diverse linguistic landscape. The community mourns the loss of a young life and demands justice for the victim.

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