Mumbai: The faculty of Khare-Dhere-Bhosale college in Guhagar, Ratnagiri district, is reeling under shock and outrage following an alleged brutal attack on four professors by the management of the college.
On December 18, professors Govind Bhaskarrao Sanap, Anil Shashikant Hirgond, Santosh Vitthalrao Jadhav, and Neelkanth Sakharam Bhalerao were allegedly violently assaulted by Mahesh Bhosale, the chairman of Guhagar Education Society, and Sandeep Bhosale, its secretary, along with seven other individuals allegedly hired by them.
The attack, allegedly carried out with iron rods and wooden sticks, reportedly took place near the college gate and within its premises. The victims were left with severe injuries.
The assault is said to have been orchestrated because the professors refused to support alleged irregularities within the institution. “The management wanted the professors to carry out illegal tasks, like allowing admissions to students with fake certificates. When the professors refused and said they would instead resign rather than carry out such tasks, they were brutally beaten up,” GB Raje, president of Bombay University and College Teachers' Union (BUCTU), told the Free Press Journal.
The incident has created an atmosphere of fear among faculty members, students, parents, and staff. Despite the gravity of the attack, initial delays in police action left many questioning the effectiveness of the investigation.
However, recent developments have seen the arrest of five individuals, including secretary Sandeep Bhosale and two alleged goons, Rohan Bhosale and Patkar. The main accused, president Mahesh Bhosale, remains absconding, according to BUCTU.
In response to the incident, BUCTU organised a protest march on December 21, from the college premises to the Guhagar Tehsildar's office. The march drew widespread support from various sections of society, including educators, students, parents, and social activists.
Led by BUCTU president Raje and general secretary Chandrashekhar Kulkarni, the demonstrators demanded justice for the victims, punishment for the perpetrators, an end to corruption at the college, an investigation into the management's activities, and the appointment of an administrator to oversee the institution.
The protest march featured participants from diverse backgrounds, including members of BUCTU’s executive committee, senate and academic council members, and representatives from the management council of Mumbai University. Teachers from across Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts joined the march in solidarity with their colleagues.
Many current and former students of Khare-Dhere-Bhosale College also participated in the protest, expressing their support for their professors. Parents, too, joined the march, emphasising the community's shared sense of outrage.
During the protest, a delegation led by Raje submitted a memorandum of demands to the Tehsildar of Guhagar, addressing it to the Governor, the Chief Minister, and the Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University. The delegation included victims’ family members, retired professors, and student representatives, who urged authorities to take swift action.
The memorandum called for a thorough investigation into the attack, the dissolution of the college’s governing body, and the immediate appointment of an administrator to oversee the institution. Police officials, including Sub-Divisional Police Officer Rajmane and Inspector Sachin Sawant, were present during the submission of the memorandum, and the delegation sought an update on the progress of the investigation.
The protest witnessed participation from nearly 400 individuals, including retired professors and activists. The presence of little girls holding placards — which read: "Our fathers must get justice, the goons must be punished” — drew significant attention and highlighted the human cost of the attack.