An auto rickshaw driver was assaulted allegedly by a group of unidentified persons believed to be members of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on Saturday for making “anti-Marathi” remarks, PTI reported.

The driver, a migrant worker living in the Virar area, had earlier been recorded in a purported video in which he allegedly refused to speak Marathi and made “derogatory” comments about the language, Maharashtra and Marathi icons. The clip was circulated widely online.

On Saturday, he was allegedly attacked near Virar railway station by a group that included several women. Another video, showing the assault, was also shared on social media.

The attackers reportedly forced the man to publicly apologise to a resident and his sister, accusing him of misbehaving with her earlier, PTI reported. He was also asked to apologise to the state for “insulting” it and its linguistic and cultural heritage.

No case has been registered in the matter so far.

An unidentified police official told PTI, “We have seen the viral video and are verifying the facts, but as of now, no complaint has been received from either party.”

Uday Jadhav, a leader from the Uddhav Sena who was present at the scene, told reporters that the party would not remain silent if anyone insulted the Marathi language or people.

“The driver had the audacity to speak ill of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos,” PTI quoted him as saying. “He was taught a befitting lesson. We made him apologise to the people of the state and to those he had offended.”

The incident took place over a week after seven unidentified persons, believed to be members of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, assaulted a shopkeeper in Thane district for not speaking in Marathi.

On July 5, suspected workers of the party also vandalised the Mumbai office of entrepreneur Sushil Kedia, a day after he posted on social media that he had lived in the city for 30 years without learning Marathi “properly”.

The incidents took place amid an escalating row in Maharashtra, triggered by the state government’s move to make Hindi a “generally” taught third language for Class 1 to Class 5 in Marathi and English medium schools.

On June 29, the state government withdrew the resolution following widespread backlash.