A day after a video from Pune’s Wagholi went viral over an argument regarding the Marathi language, a shocking incident took place in Karad taluka. Four individuals allegedly assaulted the staff of Hotel Rajasthani for not speaking Marathi.
The incident took place two days ago, around 11 pm, at the hotel located in Belwade Haveli, Karad. The attackers, identified as Avinash Krishnat Nikam, Prajwal Tukaram Nikam, Deepak Dattatray Lokre, and Gaurav Madhukar Raote, all residents of Indoli, Karad taluka.
According to the police officials, the four youths entered the hotel and asked if there was any food available. Prahlad Gobarlal Parmar, the hotel manager, responded in Hindi at that point, stating that he did not understand Marathi and requesting that they communicate in Hindi instead. When one of the young people demanded that Parmar speak in Marathi and threatened to not allow him leave if he didn't, this response sparked an altercation.
Victim beaten up with iron rods
The dispute quickly got out of hand when the group stormed into the hotel and started using an iron pipe to physically attack Prahlad Parmar, the manager. He suffered severe injuries in the incident. The attackers allegedly assaulted, abused, and battered hotel cook Suresh Gobarlal Parmar and waiter Prahlad Budharam Kumar with iron pipes when they attempted to step in and end the altercation.
The incident took place while the hotel was closing for the night. The hotel, has been leased by Biru Lubaram Chauhan, was left shaken by the assault. Prahlad Parmar, the manager, later filed a complaint at Talbid Police Station on Friday night. The accused—Nikam, Nikam, Lokre, and Raote—have been booked, and a case has been registered.
The police are continuing their investigation into the incident. This violent act comes just a day after a video from Pune's Wagholi went viral, involving a dispute over the use of the Marathi language, further raising tensions regarding language-based arguments in the state.
