Student attacked in SPPU for deleting ‘political’ post on WhatsApp group

Police have booked four youngsters identified as Ram Tarpude, Karun Wakode, Vaibhav Dighe and Ganesh Kakade and their aides under sections 324, 323, 504, 506, 143, 147, 149 of the Indian Penal Code.

The FIR mentioned that Tarpude had on Thursday posted a message in the WhatsApp group about Ravindra Dhangekar's nomination by the Congress on contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Pune. Funde deleted it the same day as it was a “political post”, the FIR stated. (File)

A student was allegedly attacked on the premises of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) for deleting a “political” post on a WhatsApp group on Friday. The student, identified as Anil Funde (28), lodged the first information report (FIR) in the case at Chaturshringi police station.

Police have booked four youngsters identified as Ram Tarpude, Karun Wakode, Vaibhav Dighe and Ganesh Kakade and their aides under sections 324, 323, 504, 506, 143, 147, 149 of the Indian Penal Code.

Assistant police inspector Sambhaji Gurav, the investigation officer, said the complainant Funde is a student of SPPU’s Philosophy department and is associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), while the accused have links with with the Yuva Sena of the Shiv Sena (UBT).

Police said Funde is a member of a WhatsApp group ‘SPPU Boys Hostel’ that has hundreds of members, including current and former students, and that it is not linked to any particular group or political party.

As stated in the FIR, the “admin” of the WhatsApp group had given instructions that members should not put up any political posts on it.

The FIR mentioned that Tarpude had on Thursday posted a message in the WhatsApp group about Ravindra Dhangekar’s nomination by the Congress on contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Pune. Funde deleted it the same day as it was a “political post”, the FIR stated.

It further mentioned that Tarpude had called Funde on his phone and asked him to meet him at the Adarsh Canteen in SPPU.

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Funde and his friends went to meet Tarpude at the canteen around 4.30 pm on Friday. Tarpude questioned Funde for deleting his post on the WhatsApp group. Funde replied by saying that political posts were not allowed on the group. Tarpude got angry and his friends and him allegedly attacked Funde. As stated in the FIR, they allegedly thrashed Funde with plastic chairs, leaving him injured.

After receiving information about the incident, a police team arrived at the spot for an investigation. “We have issued notices to the accused as per the law and further investigation is on,” said Gurav.

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