Special Correspondent
Sangli : A shocking incident has emerged from Sangli district, where a 17-year-old girl died after being brutally assaulted by her father for scoring low marks in a NEET (medical entrance) practice test conducted by a private coaching institute. The father, who is a school headmaster by profession, allegedly beat his daughter with a wooden pestle used in a traditional stone grinder. Following the assault, the girl sustained serious head injuries and later succumbed during treatment. The incident took place in Nelkaranji village of Atpadi Taluka.
The deceased has been identified as Sadhana Dhondiram Bhosale, a Class 12 science student. Her father, Dhondiram Bhosale, works as a principal in a private educational institution in the same village. According to sources, Sadhana had joined private coaching classes to prepare for the NEET examination. A few days ago, the institute conducted a mock test in which she scored lower than expected, which reportedly enraged her father.
The incident occurred on Friday night (June 20), around 9:30 PM, when Dhondiram, in a fit of anger, allegedly struck Sadhana repeatedly using the wooden handle of a traditional grinder. She was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition but died during treatment.
Initial attempts were made by the father to present the death as accidental. However, the post-mortem report revealed blunt force trauma to the head, exposing the truth. Following a complaint filed by the girl’s mother Preeti Bhosale, police registered an FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and arrested the accused father on Sunday (June 22).
Sadhana was a brilliant student, having secured 92.60% marks in her Class 10 board exams, topping her school. The family had dreams of her becoming a doctor, and hence had enrolled her in private coaching. Her sudden and tragic death has shocked the entire community.
The Bhosale family holds significant social standing in the village — Preeti Bhosale is a former village sarpanch, and Dhondiram’s father Bhagwan Bhosale was a former police patil. The case has sparked widespread outrage and renewed discussion on the pressure of academic expectations and the growing mental and emotional stress on students preparing for competitive exams.
Educators and child welfare activists have condemned the incident, calling for greater awareness among parents to prioritize children’s mental well-being over exam performance, and urging schools and governments to initiate counseling programs for both students and their guardians.
