In a disturbing incident in Dombivli, Maharashtra, two women, while one of them carrying a nine-month-old baby, were allegedly assaulted for saying "excuse me" in English instead of Marathi.
The incident occurred near their housing society and was captured on video, prompting widespread online outrage.
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According to the complaint, the women, residents of the same society, were entering the premises on a two-wheeler when the incident occurred. The woman driving the scooter reportedly said "excuse me" to a young man blocking the entrance. The man, allegedly offended by the use of English, demanded she speak in Marathi.
Matters escalated quickly as he twisted the arm of the pillion rider. Soon, four to five women and two young men. As per the reports his family members also joined him and allegedly began beating the two women, showing no regard for the infant.
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The complainant stated that "excuse me" is a basic and courteous phrase used in daily life, and the aggressive reaction was entirely uncalled for. Eyewitnesses supported her account, saying the group attacked the women without provocation.
Senior Inspector Sanjay Pawar of Vishnu Nagar police station confirmed that a probe is underway. However, no FIR has been registered yet. Authorities are also examining if the incident was connected to any prior disputes between the families.
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This case comes amid heightened sensitivity around language use in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, recently launched a campaign demanding that bank employees communicate with customers in Marathi.
In response, the United Forum of Bank Unions complained to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, claiming MNS members had entered banks and issued threats.
The Dombivli case has reignited debate on linguistic identity and coexistence in urban Maharashtra.