Feminist group condemns attack on journalist Sneha Barwe, demands immediate arrest, judicial inquiry

By A Representative

The All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) – a collective under the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) – has strongly condemned the brutal assault on journalist Sneha Barwe and called for the immediate arrest of the prime accused. In a statement issued on July 18, 2025, the alliance expressed solidarity with Ms. Barwe and demanded a time-bound judicial or magisterial inquiry into the incident, while holding the state accountable for the increasing attacks on grassroots journalists across India.

Ms. Barwe, a reporter with Lokshahi Varta, was attacked on July 4 in Manchar village near Pune while reporting on alleged illegal construction along the Ghod River. She was assaulted with a wooden stick, resulting in serious injuries that required hospitalization. The assault, captured on video, drew widespread outrage. The main accused, Pandurang Morade, remains absconding despite the visual evidence and previous complaints against him, including a reported 2019 sexual assault case.

According to ALIFA, the attack on Ms. Barwe is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of threats and intimidation she has faced as a woman journalist covering land and governance issues in rural Maharashtra. The alliance highlighted that such harassment is part of a broader national trend of increasing violence against grassroots journalists, particularly women, Dalit, and minority reporters working in vernacular media.

Citing reports by the Press Council of India, Free Speech Collective, and Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), ALIFA pointed to a disturbing rise in threats from both state and non-state actors. India’s ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, at 151, further reflects this deteriorating situation.

ALIFA emphasized that Ms. Barwe’s right to safety and dignity is protected under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, and her freedom as a journalist is upheld under Article 19(1)(a). These constitutional guarantees impose a duty on the state to protect journalists from violence and ensure accountability, particularly for those from marginalized communities.

The group also cited several landmark Supreme Court judgments—including Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras (1950), Indian Express Newspapers v. Union of India (1985), and Rajat Prasad v. CBI (2014)—which affirm the role of the press in upholding democratic accountability. ALIFA warned that the attack on Ms. Barwe must be viewed not just as an assault on an individual, but as an attack on democratic institutions and constitutional values.

The alliance reminded the government of its international obligations under instruments like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and UN General Assembly Resolution 68/163, which call for protection of journalists, especially women, and accountability for crimes committed against them.

ALIFA has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Pandurang Morade under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, an independent inquiry into the incident and earlier threats, full state-supported legal and medical assistance to Ms. Barwe, and disciplinary action against police officials who failed to act on previous complaints.

Comments

Delhi Jal Board under fire as CAG finds 55% groundwater unfit for consumption

By A Representative A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India audit report tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on 7 January 2026 has revealed alarming lapses in the quality and safety of drinking water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), raising serious public health concerns for residents of the capital.

Advocacy group decries 'hyper-centralization' as States’ share of health funds plummets

By A Representative In a major pre-budget mobilization, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), India’s leading public health advocacy network, has issued a sharp critique of the Union government’s health spending and demanded a doubling of the health budget for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.

Pairing not with law but with perpetrators: Pavlovian response to lynchings in India

By Vikash Narain Rai* Lynch-law owes its name to James Lynch, the legendary Warden of Galway, Ireland, who tried, condemned and executed his own son in 1493 for defrauding and killing strangers. But, today, what kind of a person will justify the lynching for any reason whatsoever? Will perhaps resemble the proverbial ‘wrong man to meet at wrong road at night!’

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s views on religion as Tagore’s saw them

By Harasankar Adhikari Religion has become a visible subject in India’s public discourse, particularly where it intersects with political debate. Recent events, including a mass Gita chanting programme in Kolkata and other incidents involving public expressions of faith, have drawn attention to how religion features in everyday life. These developments have raised questions about the relationship between modern technological progress and traditional religious practice.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Zhou Enlai: The enigmatic premier who stabilized chaos—at what cost?

By Harsh Thakor* Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 until his death and as Foreign Minister from 1949 to 1958. He played a central role in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for over five decades, contributing to its organization, military efforts, diplomacy, and governance. His tenure spanned key events including the Long March, World War II alliances, the founding of the PRC, the Korean War, and the Cultural Revolution.

Uttarakhand tunnel disaster: 'Question mark' on rescue plan, appraisal, construction

By Bhim Singh Rawat* As many as 40 workers were trapped inside Barkot-Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi after a portion of the 4.5 km long, supposedly completed portion of the tunnel, collapsed early morning on Sunday, Nov 12, 2023. The incident has once again raised several questions over negligence in planning, appraisal and construction, absence of emergency rescue plan, violations of labour laws and environmental norms resulting in this avoidable accident.

'Threat to farmers’ rights': New seeds Bill sparks fears of rising corporate control

By Bharat Dogra As debate intensifies over a new seeds bill, groups working on farmers’ seed rights, seed sovereignty and rural self-reliance have raised serious concerns about the proposed legislation. To understand these anxieties, it is important to recognise a global trend: growing control of the seed sector by a handful of multinational companies. This trend risks extending corporate dominance across food and farming systems, jeopardising the livelihoods and rights of small farmers and raising serious ecological and health concerns. The pending bill must be assessed within this broader context.

Search This Blog