Webdesk: In a shocking incident that highlights the growing dangers faced by journalists in India, reporter Sneha Barve was violently attacked in broad daylight while filming illegal construction work on a riverbed near Pune.
The brutal assault took place on July 4, 2025, in Nigothwadi village, close to Manchar town in Maharashtra’s Pune district. Barve, founder-editor of Samarth Bharat newspaper and the SBP YouTube channel, was speaking on camera about the unauthorised riverbed encroachment when the assault occurred.
Midway through the report, local businessman Pandurang Sakharam Morde suddenly appeared with a wooden rod and began hitting her repeatedly. Barve’s cries for help were captured in the video before she lost consciousness.
The horrifying footage, recorded by cameraperson Ajaz Sheikh, continued rolling even as Morde’s aides noticed the filming and turned on him as well. Several bystanders who tried to intervene were also beaten up; one suffered a fractured hand, another a broken nose.
Barve was first taken to a nearby hospital before being moved to DY Patil Hospital in Pimpri Chinchwad, India. Doctors said she sustained injuries to her head and back, with CT scans revealing a concussion and swelling in her brain.
Meet Pune journo Sneha Barve, founder editor of Samarth Bharat.
— Rahul Seeker (@sunshine_rahul) July 15, 2025
The Lady of spine & courage.
On 4 July, she was brutally beaten while ground reporting an illegal construction. Blacked out & Hospitalised wid serious injuries. Main accused not yet arrested.
But wait. 🧵1/5 pic.twitter.com/QtwXDjxHZr
Speaking to media after her release from the hospital, Barve said she was still struggling to process the assault. “I didn’t realise how brutal it was until I saw the video,” she said.
She explained that she had visited the site earlier to gather evidence and had prepared her script. “I wanted to get his version, too. But he refused to speak and then suddenly attacked me.”
The construction in question allegedly involves a wall built by Morde that blocks the river’s flow, raising fears that it could flood the nearby vegetable market during monsoons, according to media reports.
On 4 July, journalist from Pune, Sneha Bharve, was brutally beaten while doing a ground report on illegal constructions in Pune and around. She has been hospitalised with serious injuries, esp in the lower back and head. The main accuse, Panduranga Morande, is yet not arrested.… pic.twitter.com/9GFY2tELGh
— Dushyant Naagar (@DushyantNaagar) July 16, 2025
Pandurang Morde is a local businessman known for his close ties to political heavyweights, both the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP. He has a history of criminal cases, including charges of murder (2003) and attempted murder (2007).
While he was acquitted in one case, the other remains pending. He is currently out on bail. Despite the shocking nature of this attack, neither political party has issued any statement so far.
Despite severity of the situation, lax legal response was given. Shockingly, the FIR lodged by Sudhakar Baburao Kale lists only mild offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, grievous hurt, unlawful assembly, intimidation, sections that carry maximum sentences of one to two years. This, despite the viciousness of the attack, was caught entirely on camera.
The case has sparked strong reactions online and in local media.
Outrageous
— Parth MN (@parthpunter) July 14, 2025
Journalist Sneha Barve was beaten by a rod till she became unconscious while she was reporting on illegal construction activity near Pune
When vandals are in power, the impunity trickles down to all goons.
Law and order in Maharashtra is a joke pic.twitter.com/QgZmRg82ki
One social media user wrote: “Law and order in Maharashtra is a joke.”
This country is beyond repair! Journalist Sneha Barve was beaten by a rod while she was reporting on illegal construction activity near Pune.
— Pallabi Sen (@PallabiSen) July 14, 2025
Law and order in Maharashtra is a joke.@MumbaiPolice pic.twitter.com/eLmvuiiGnX
What's happening in Maharashtra? A journalist, Sneha Barve, was beaten with a wooden rod till she became unconscious while reporting on illegal construction activity. D main accused is Pandurang Sakharam Morde, a local businessperson with political connections. Not arrested yet. pic.twitter.com/55CF4KPaTR
— deepEndsHere (@tHeSpoilerD) July 14, 2025
This case lays bare the collapsing state of India’s justice system, where political influence continues to protect the powerful, and where those attacking journalists face barely any consequences. When those with political links act like vandals, it sends a clear message: anyone can get away with anything.
Outrageous
— Lone Wolf (@LoneWol30060091) July 15, 2025
Journalist Sneha Barve was beaten by a rod till she became unconscious while she was reporting on illegal construction activity near Pune
When vandals are in power, the impunity trickles down to all goons.
Law and order in Maharashtra is a joke pic.twitter.com/DdU3KxXNDh
What happened to Sneha Barve is not just an attack on one journalist; it’s a clear sign of how unsafe it has become to speak the truth in today’s India.
Barve was doing her job, exposing illegal construction that could lead to flooding and public danger. Instead of being protected by the law, she was beaten unconscious in broad daylight. The video shows it all.
This is Modis India. It shows that in today’s India, if you’re connected to power, you can get away with violence, even against reporters. It shows that the system is no longer protecting the truth-tellers; instead, it shields the wrongdoers.
Modi’s government has created an environment where journalists who question corruption or wrongdoing are seen as enemies, not public servants. A country where islamophobia thrives and foreign policy fails. This isn’t the sign of a healthy democracy; it’s the sign of a scared, crumbling one.
After surviving the murderous attack on her,journalist Sneha Barwe is now deeply cncrned abt her family’s safety.Her fears were heightened aftr one of the accused visted her village on Thursday afternoon,askng the whereabouts and persnl details of her parents and siblings.#Pune pic.twitter.com/c9nQTfXdWI
— Prateek Goyal (@tweets_prateekg) July 17, 2025
She didn’t pick up a gun. She picked up a mic and a camera. And for that, she was beaten to near death.
If Modi truly believes in democracy, he must speak up, not just when it’s convenient, but when it’s difficult. Especially when those who are close to power are the ones doing the damage.
Until that happens, attacks like this will continue. And every time a journalist is silenced, India loses a piece of its freedom.
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