On December 18, 2024, two officers of the Guhagar Education Society at Khare-Dhere-Bhosale College, together with seven hired individuals attacked four professors, leaving them severely injured. The attack was apparently conducted in retaliation for the professors’ refusal to comply with demands from the College’s administration to falsify student certificates. 

The attack was allegedly led by Manesh Janardan Bhosale, the Society’s Chairman, and Sandeep Bhosale, its Secretary. During the attack, the group gathered near the college gate and used iron rods and wooden sticks to beat the four professors – Govind Bhaskarrao Sanap, Anil Shashikant Hirgond, Santosh Vitthalrao Jadhav, and Neelkanth Sakharam Bhalerao – leaving them severely wounded. 

By December 25, the police had arrested Secretary Sandeep Bhosale and four others allegedly involved in the attack.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about an apparently targeted attack on scholars apparently conducted in order to interfere with the educational process. State authorities should take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to such attacks, including by holding perpetrators accountable, in accordance with international human rights standards. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, violent, targeted attacks on scholars undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
Free Press Journal (India)
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-buctu-protests-after-4-khare-dhere-bhosale-college-professors-brutally-attacked-for-exposing-corruption-5-arrested
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/5-arrested-after-4-ratnagiri-college-professors-assaulted-101735066751795.html