An incident at Pune’s historic Sinhagad Fort has triggered widespread outrage after a group of local youths coerced a foreign tourist from New Zealand into repeating abusive Marathi words. The incident, captured in a viral video, has raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of visitors at heritage sites.
The tourist, visiting Sinhagad Fort to experience the Maratha empire's rich history, was approached by a group of young men during his trek. Under the guise of friendly interaction, they taught him obscene Marathi phrases and encouraged him to repeat them while laughing and filming the act.
In the video, the tourist initially appears unaware of the meaning of the words he is being asked to say. As the group’s laughter grows louder, his expression changes, indicating he may have realized something was wrong. The video sparked outrage on social media after being shared widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Haveli police took suo moto cognizance of the viral video and registered an FIR against four unidentified individuals under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Penal Code), including:
Section 352: Intentionally insulting someone to provoke a breach of peace.
Section 295A: Deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
Police are working to identify and apprehend the accused while ensuring strict action is taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident has sparked fears that international tourists may avoid visiting Pune’s heritage sites due to safety concerns. Citizens have urged authorities to ensure better visitor protection and promote Maharashtra’s legacy positively.