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July 15, 2025 – India –
In a disturbing assault on press freedom in India, 27-year-old journalist Sneha Barve was brutally attacked on July 11 while covering an alleged land-grabbing incident in Nighotwadi, Pune. Barve, who works for Pune Pulse, was assaulted by a group of men reportedly linked to a politically connected construction lobby. The attack occurred while she was reporting on illegal construction activities and encroachments on government-owned land.
According to eyewitness accounts and statements from her family, Barve was dragged, beaten with wooden sticks and rods, and left injured in the open. The incident took place in broad daylight as she tried to document the encroachment and question those involved. Her mobile phone was snatched, and attempts were allegedly made to destroy evidence of the assault. Despite being identified as a journalist, she was targeted and repeatedly assaulted.
Her father, also a journalist, stated that she was attacked for doing her job—reporting illegal activity and exposing powerful local interests. Sneha suffered injuries to her limbs and back but is currently recovering. She has since spoken to the media, expressing fear but also determination to continue reporting.
An FIR has been filed against 12 individuals in connection with the attack, and local police say the matter is under investigation. However, press freedom advocates have expressed concern over the delay in arrests and the impunity often associated with attacks on journalists in India.
The Pune Working Journalists’ Union and other media associations have condemned the attack and demanded swift justice. They called for stronger protections for journalists, especially women reporters working on the ground. The incident adds to a growing list of assaults on journalists in India, where those exposing local corruption, land disputes, or criminal-political nexus are frequently targeted.
Barve’s case has sparked outrage among media circles and civil society, with many highlighting the urgent need for legislative safeguards to protect journalists from violence and intimidation. Her courage in confronting illegal activities underscores the critical role local reporters play in holding power to account, often at great personal risk.
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