New Delhi, 15 July 2025: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemns the brutal assault on editor of Samarth Bharat newspaper and SBP YouTube channel, Sneha Barve, and cameraperson, Ajaz Sheikh, when she was reporting on illegal construction activity in a riverbed in a town near Pune. While the incident happened on July 4, it came to light only after a video showing the assault went viral. The Union demands the culprits are brought to book.
As per reports, Sneha was brutally attacked with rods, causing serious injuries on her arms, back and head when she was reporting the illegal construction activity on a riverbed in Nigothwadi village near Manchar town and later hospitalised. An FIR was filed the night of the incident, and five persons were arrested but later released after they were granted bail. However, the main accused, Pandurang Sakharam Morde, a local businessperson said to have political connections, is yet to be arrested, who is seen repeatedly hitting her with a wooden rod.
According to Sneha’s father, Dattatray Barve, “The local goondas had illegally taken over a plot of land near the riverbed. Sneha went there to report on the issue. They came from behind and hit her very badly. She fell to the ground, but locals saved her and carried her to the hospital.” Sneha has been a journalist for past eight years and a few times before as well, people had threatened her, but she continued doing her work.
This case pertains to a farmer from Ambegaon, who asked her to report on the attempt by some persons to illegally seize his 0.9 acres of agricultural land, currently under litigation. Apparently, the accused allegedly ploughed and prepared the land for sugarcane cultivation and on 4 July the farmer brought Sneha to the spot to document the act of the culprits. She then took pictures on her mobile phone and recorded a video, which they tried to stop. They warned her not to report it or post it on any media platforms.
In a statement, IJU President and former member of Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists, Sabina Inderjit said that the young journalist Sneha has shown exemplary courage to report on illegal takeover of land by goons with political connections and despite the threats. They demanded law enforcement and authorities to take prompt action against those accused. Additionally, they called for the Maharashtra government to provide a secure environment for journalists to fulfil their duties, noting that the media plays a vital role in informing and assisting governance.
