A food stall owner in Thane district, Maharashtra, was allegedly assaulted by members of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for not speaking in Marathi, police confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the Bhayander area and was captured on video. Footage circulating widely on social media showed a group of men, some wearing scarves bearing the emblem of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, confronting the vendor during a food purchase.
According to officials, one of the men demanded the vendor speak in Marathi. When the vendor pushed back with a question, the tensions escalated. Then the man began shouting, and others in the group joined him, slapping the stall owner during the confrontation.
A case has been registered by Kashimira Police under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and an investigation is under way. The accused have not yet been formally identified, authorities said.
The MNS has been actively campaigning for the increased use of Marathi in public spaces, particularly in businesses and financial institutions across Maharashtra. Party leaders have consistently emphasised that Marathi should be prioritised as the primary language in commercial communication.
Police have yet to confirm whether those involved in the assault are officially linked to the MNS, although the presence of party insignia in the viral video has drawn widespread attention and condemnation online.
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