Kolhapur: A clash broke out between members of two communities on the evening of March 12 in Kagal taluka of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, following a dispute over a social media post.
URGENT: Muslim mob launched a deadly assault on a Hindu youth in Karanur, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
When confronted, the mob began stone pelting on police and activists.
Youth's only mistake was forwarding a shloka of Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a WhatsApp group… pic.twitter.com/rqkGpXSnyz
— Treeni (@treeni) March 12, 2026
Reports state that a Hindu youth had shared a shloka attributed to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a WhatsApp group. The post reportedly triggered anger among some members of the Muslim community, after which a group allegedly attacked the youth. When police intervened to control the situation, some individuals reportedly began pelting stones at the police personnel and others present at the scene.
Several two-wheelers and four-wheelers were damaged during the unrest. Authorities said the situation has now been brought under control, though tension continues to prevail in the area. A large police force has been deployed to maintain law and order.
According to authorities, a social media post circulated online triggered a confrontation between young men from two communities in a WhatsApp group. Initially, local residents intervened and managed to settle the matter through discussions. However, tensions escalated again when members of one group allegedly assaulted individuals from the other side.
As news of the incident spread, a large crowd gathered at the spot. Local residents attempted to resolve the dispute peacefully, while police personnel were also present at the scene. Before the situation could be fully assessed, stones and bricks were suddenly hurled, leading to chaos. Recognising the seriousness of the situation, the police immediately called for reinforcements, separated the opposing groups, and gradually brought the situation under control.
Police inspectors from the Kagal, Karvir and Gandhinagar police stations, along with their teams, were deployed to manage the situation under the supervision of Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Gupta.
Meanwhile, information about the incident spread across Kagal and nearby areas through social media. Subsequently, several youths gathered in the town and strongly condemned the incident, demanding strict action against those responsible. A large number of people assembled outside the Kagal police station and remained there until late at night. The process of registering complaints continued late into the night after the injured individuals underwent medical examinations. Additional security forces were deployed from the district headquarters to maintain law and order and prevent further escalation.
