ALIFA condemns the dastardly attack on journalist Sneha Barwe: Demands State to arrest the assaulter, initiate judicial inquiry and protect grassroots journalists
napm india
ALIFA condemns the dastardly attack on journalist Sneha Barwe & calls for immediate arrest of assaulter & judicial inquiry
State must take accountability for growing attacks on grassroots journalists and ensure their protection
18th July 2025: ALIFA – NAPM (All India Feminist Alliance - National Alliance of People’s Movements), a pan-India collective of feminist, grassroots organizations and individuals condemns the dastardly attack on the journalist Ms. Sneha Barwe. We express our full solidarity and deep anguish in the wake of the heinous assault on her in Pune on 4th July, 2025. We call for immediate arrest of the primary accused, a time-bound judicial or magisterial inquiry, all necessary support by state to Ms. Sneha and action against officials who failed to act on previous complaints. We also demand state accountability for growing attacks on grassroots journalists in different parts of the country.
As is known, Ms. Barwe, a dedicated reporter with Lokshahi Varta, was brutally attacked with a wooden stick while reporting on alleged illegal construction near the Ghod River in Manchar village. This attack has been vividly captured on video. She suffered serious injuries and required hospitalization. Disturbingly, the main accused, Mr. Pandurang Morade, who is also reportedly implicated in a 2019 sexual assault case, remains absconding even two weeks after the attack, with no public rationale given and despite compelling video evidence. This raises serious concerns about impunity and selective application of the law.
This assault, shockingly was not an isolated event. As a woman journalist working in rural Maharashtra and covering sensitive land and governance issues, Ms. Barwe has faced sustained threats, public intimidation, and earlier attempts to silence her reporting. This pattern of harassment and violence against journalists—especially women, dalit, and minority journalists in vernacular and grassroots media—has become a growing concern across India.
In multiple recent reports, including from the Press Council of India, the Free Speech Collective and the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), journalists have reported escalating threats from both state and non-state actors. Reporters Sans Frontiers has ranked India 151 in the world in relation to freedom of Press in 2025.
Ms. Barwe’s safety and dignity (as of other journalists) is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, which upholds the right to life and personal liberty. The right to freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy, protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. These protections are not abstract; they place a binding obligation on the State to ensure freedom from violence, intimidation, and arbitrary targeting, especially for women and those from marginalized communities. The state must take accountability for growing attacks on grassroots journalists and ensure their protection.
The Supreme Court has consistently affirmed this in cases such as Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras (1950) and Indian Express Newspapers v. Union of India (1985), where it held that press freedom is vital to ensuring public accountability and informed citizenry. Further, in Rajat Prasad v. CBI (2014) and Samar Singh v. Kedar Nath (1987), the courts have reiterated that obstructing or threatening journalists constitutes not only a violation of free speech but interference with public interest.
The most recent assault on Ms. Barwe must be seen as an attack not only on an individual but on democracy and the Constitution itself. India is also bound by international obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and UN General Assembly Resolution 68/163 on the safety of journalists, which call upon States to take concrete steps to prevent violence against journalists, ensure accountability, and promote a safe working environment—particularly for women journalists.
In the light of the above, we demand:
1. The immediate arrest of the primary accused, Mr. Pandurang Morade, and prosecution of all involved under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions of attempt to murder, and obstruction of journalistic duty.
2. A time-bound, independent judicial or magisterial inquiry into the assault and the prior threats and intimidation Ms. Barwe faced, especially following her earlier complaints in 2024 and February 2025, including institutional lapses by local police.
3. Provision of state-sponsored legal aid, medical support, trauma counseling, and full protection to Ms. Barwe, in consultation with her and independent journalists’ and women’s rights organizations.
4. Suspension and disciplinary action against police officers who failed to act on previous complaints or delayed action in this case, pending inquiry findings.
Issued by: All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA - NAPM)
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