New Zealand tourist made to utter swear words by youths at Pune’s Sinhagad Fort, FIR filed after video sparks outrage

In a video lasting one hour and three minutes, he shared his experiences and interactions with people during his climb of Sinhagad Fort. The video, titled ‘This Fort In India Is Insane! (Sinhagad Fort)’, shows him interacting with a few youths claiming to have come from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. They are heard using abusive words in Marathi while talking to him, encouraging him to use swear words and laughing about it.

The video went viral on social media, and several citizens, activists, history lovers, and workers of different political parties demanded legal action against the youths for their objectionable behaviour.

The FIR was lodged at the Haveli police station of the Pune Rural police. Inspector Sachin Wangade said accused have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 49 (punishment for abetment), 302 (intentionally hurting someone’s religious feelings), 351 (criminal intimidation), and further investigation is on.

The police said no arrest has been made yet, but attempts are on to identify the accused seen in the video. Meanwhile, Luke posted more videos on his YouTube channel regarding his ongoing tour to different places in India, including the Dharavi slum in Mumbai and the sea fort Janjira in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.

Sinhagad Fort is known for the legendary Tanaji Malusare, a commander of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Tanaji was killed while recapturing the Sinhagad Fort from the Mughals in 1670.