Shiv Sena activists attack, slap, pull women by hair in Thane: video

Thane: Members of the Shiv Sena Mahila Aghadi allegedly assaulted several women, accusing them of prostitution in the crowded Talao Pali area on Saturday, with footage of the incident circulating widely on social media. The activists reportedly confronted the women and forced them to leave the locality, claiming they had acted after repeated complaints to the police went unaddressed, The Free Press Journal reported.

The viral video shows members of the women's wing slapping and verbally abusing the women. Some activists are also seen dragging them by their hair and allegedly striking them with sugarcane sticks, raising serious concerns over the use of physical violence to enforce a group's demands.

Mahila Aghadi workers claimed that women allegedly engaged in sex work had been operating openly around Talao Pali, causing discomfort among residents and people passing through the busy neighbourhood. They maintained that local women had repeatedly approached the police seeking intervention, but no effective action had followed.

The activists cited the alleged lack of police response to justify their decision to confront the women themselves. However, the incident has drawn attention to the manner in which the group handled the complaints, particularly the assault captured in the footage.

There is no independent confirmation so far that the women shown in the video were involved in prostitution. Their identities have also not been established. The allegations made by the activists therefore remain unverified.

There is also no confirmed information on whether the police have registered a case or initiated action against those involved in the assault. The incident has renewed questions over vigilante action and the safety of women targeted by such confrontations.