Pune: Tension gripped Yavat village in Daund taluka, about 80 km from Pune, on Friday after an objectionable post on social media triggered violent protests. Several vehicles were set on fire, and stones were pelted at a religious place, leading to a heavy police presence in the area.
The unrest comes against the backdrop of an earlier incident of desecration of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Neelkantheshwar temple in Yavat on July 26. Protests had been ongoing since Thursday, demanding strict action against those responsible for the statue tampering. The situation escalated further when a post by a local youth, identified as Syed, went viral on Friday.
According to Yavat Police Inspector Narayan Deshmukh, the youth was immediately taken into custody. “We brought him to the police station and initiated legal proceedings. However, by then, his post had already spread widely on social media, fueling public anger,” he said.
Following this, protesters gathered near the youth’s residence in Sahakar Nagar, vandalized his property, and clashed with another group, leading to widespread tension in the area. In retaliation, a mob set multiple vehicles ablaze and hurled stones at a religious place, creating panic among locals.
SP Sandeep Singh Gill confirmed that police had to resort to firing tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. “No injuries have been reported so far. Additional police forces have been deployed in Yavat, and patrolling has been intensified to prevent any further escalation,” he said. The weekly market in Yavat was also shut down as a precautionary measure.
Authorities have appealed to the public to maintain peace and avoid sharing inflammatory content on social media. “We are monitoring the situation closely and will take strict action against anyone trying to disrupt communal harmony,” the SP added.
This incident follows a similar outbreak of violence in Nagpur in March 2025, which erupted over a dispute regarding Aurangzeb’s tomb. The recurring clashes over sensitive historical and religious issues have raised concerns about law and order in Maharashtra.
For now, while the police claim that the situation is under control, the region remains tense, with residents urging swift justice and a return to normalcy.
