Police have registered five FIRs against more than 500 individuals following violent communal clashes in Yavat village of Pune district. The violence broke out on Friday over an objectionable post shared on a social messaging platform. According to officials, the post sparked tension between two communities, leading to widespread unrest.

Statement of Police

Senior officials, Sunil Phulari, IG Kolhapur range; and Sandip Singh Gill, superintendent of Pune rural police, visited the spots and appealed for calm. “We have detained a person, and the situation in the town is under control,” said Gill, warning that “strict action will be taken against those responsible for spreading inflammatory content and engaging in violence”

“A large contingent of security personnel, including the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), has been deployed in the village. Authorities also imposed prohibitory orders under the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) section 163 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 144 from Friday night, and they will remain in place till further situation is assessed,” Gill Said. “We are also using drones in villages to keep an eye. Sixteen to 17 persons have been detained so far,” he said.

Mob Violence Erupts Over Social Media Post

The incident was triggered when a youth allegedly posted inflammatory content on social media. This led to heated confrontations between members of two communities. The conflict soon escalated, resulting in stone pelting, arson, and vandalism of vehicles, shops, houses, and religious sites.

To bring the situation under control, Pune rural police resorted to mild lathi-charge and used tear gas shells. Multiple police teams were deployed swiftly to restore peace. The individual responsible for the post has been arrested, and further FIRs are being lodged against others involved in rioting and destruction.

“So far, we have registered a total of five cases in connection with the violence. Four of the cases are against more than 500 people who were allegedly involved in arson and damage to property. Of these, more than 100 people have been identified and 17 of them have been taken into custody,” an official of Yavat police station said.

Vehicles and Property Set Ablaze

Significant damage was reported in Sahakar Nagar, Station Road, and Indira Nagar areas of Yavat. Among the targets were motorcycles, two cars, a bakery, and religious structures. Authorities confirmed that the mob also set the house of the youth who posted the objectionable content on fire.

To prevent further escalation, Section 144 has been imposed in the affected areas. Three platoons of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been deployed for security. Senior officials, including IG Sunil Phulari and SP Sandip Singh Gill, visited the village and urged residents to maintain peace.

Govt Condemns Violence, Promises Strict Action

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the communal violence and reaffirmed that strict action will be taken against those inciting unrest. He clarified that a Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha meeting held a day prior to the violence was unrelated. The CM also emphasized that no one has the right to insult any religion or its followers.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Pune on Friday, said, “An individual posted an objectionable social media post, leading to unrest between communities. Police had to resort to mild force to disperse the crowd, but the situation is now under control.” Fadnavis condemned those deliberately trying to incite conflict. “Some people are intentionally posting such content to create communal friction. Police will take strict action against them. No one has the right to insult any religion and its followers,” he asserted.

“To disperse the mob, police had to resort to lathi charge. The situation in Yavat is now under control and peace prevails. People from both communities are together and efforts are on to defuse tensions. Some people keep such objectionable posts just to create tension. Strict action will be taken against them. No one has the right to post objectionable content,” the CM had said.

Ajit Pawar, deputy chief minister and guardian minister of the Pune district, visited Yavat after the violence. Pawar said, “Police force, SRPF teams have been deployed and the situation is now under control.

17 Detained for Arson, Over 100 Identified

Police confirmed that of the more than 500 booked, over 100 people have been identified and 17 detained for arson and vandalism. An FIR has also been filed against the youth who uploaded the offensive post, under charges of hurting religious sentiments.

Security Tightened, Surveillance Increased

SP Sandeep Singh Gill stated that preliminary investigation shows no evidence of a planned conspiracy. Prohibitory orders under BNSS Section 163 and BNS Section 144 remain in place. Police are also using drones and monitoring social media platforms to prevent further disturbances.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited Yavat and assured that law and order had been restored. BJP MLA Rahul Kul also visited the area and met with senior police officials. Residents said normalcy was returning and stressed that the incident was not reflective of everyday community relations.

Background of the Accused and Post Content

Authorities revealed that the youth responsible for the post is a daily wage worker from Nanded. The post, related to an incident involving a Hindu priest in Madhya Pradesh, reportedly angered locals and led to the outbreak of violence.

While Friday’s weekly market in Yavat was cancelled due to the tension, police reported by the evening that the situation was under control. Regular activities have resumed, with continued police and SRPF presence to maintain peace.