Activist assaulted over DJ ban controversy in Pune
Activist Vidyanand Bapat was assaulted in Pune after advocating for a ban on high-decibel loudspeakers and DJs during the Ganesh Chathurthi festival. Police are currently investigating the incident and the motives of the attackers.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the tension between public safety/noise regulation and traditional cultural celebrations in India.
Pune-based activist Vidyanand Bapat was allegedly assaulted on Thursday (September 3, 2026) over the ban on DJs and high-decibel loudspeakers during the upcoming Ganesh Chathurthi festival.
The incident took place in the afternoon, when Mr. Bapat was speaking to a media channel at Kashale Chowk on Tilak Road in Maharashtra ’s Pune district. The video of the assault went viral wherein an unidentified attacker slapped him, saying: “He is against our Ganeshotsav. He is atheist. He is against our Hindu festivals, and should be slapped more.”
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