Thane, Maharashtra, August 5, 2023: A disturbing video showing a senior National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadet thrashing junior cadets during a physical training session at a college in Thane city, Maharashtra, has sparked public outrage.
The incident took place at Joshi Bedekar College, and the video that went viral on Thursday showed the senior cadet using a stick to beat the junior cadets as they struggled to perform challenging drills in a water-logged area.
Upon taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, the police registered a case against the senior cadet under IPC section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) at Thane Nagar police station. The college management has suspended the student responsible for the act, and several student unions and political parties, including Shiv Sena, Congress, and the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, protested outside the college demanding strict action against the culprit.
Nitin Landge of the Shinde group’s student wing stated that the NCC cadets who were at the receiving end and their parents are facing extreme pressure from the college management not to complain against the senior cadet. Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar raised the issue in the state assembly, urging the government to take action. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar assured the House that strict action will be taken against the culprits.
In response to the video, the NCC released a statement clarifying that the incident was not a reflection of NCC’s ethos or any organized training or activity. The NCC unit operates at Joshi Bedekar College, along with two other sister concerns, Bandodkar College, and VPM Polytechnic. The senior cadet, who belonged to Bandodkar College, has been suspended pending further investigation.
The incident has brought attention to the need for stringent measures against such behavior and the importance of maintaining discipline and respect within training institutions. The authorities are expected to conduct a thorough probe and take necessary action to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
