Lohagad Fort death: Mountaineering group seeks state action against ‘Siya point’ reference, other online content

2 min readPuneJul 3, 2026 07:40 PM IST

Following the alleged murder, footfall at the fort had increased significantly before it was shut for police to continue their investigation. (File Photo)

Following the death of 25-year-old Ketan Agarwal who fell from a cliff at Lohagad Fort, allegedly murdered by his fiancee Siya Goyal and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary, a premiere mountaineering group has written to the state, seeking action against social media being misused for memes and derogatory content, such as the alleged murder spot being deemed “Siya point”.

Lohagad fort, a revered site, is closely associated with the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Following the alleged murder, footfall at the fort had increased significantly before it was shut for police to continue their investigation.

“This was an unfortunate incident at Lohagad Fort but it is deeply distressing that now some offensive, insulting and defamatory comments about Lohagad have been widely circulated across social media and other platforms. Such content is highly condemnable,” veteran mountaineer Umesh Zirpe and president of Akhil Maharashtra Giryarohan Mahasangh, said.

“Several mountaineers and locals are upset that such actions not only tarnish the image of a historic monument but also hurt the sentiments of countless citizens who hold these forts in the highest regard,” he added.

The organisation has sent letters of protest and flagged their concern with the state government regarding the manner in which the incident is being exploited. “This reflects a disturbing disregard for our cultural identity and historical heritage. Our forts are not merely monuments or tourist attractions, they are symbols of Maharashtra’s pride, witnesses to the establishment of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Swarajya, and invaluable historical treasures. Attempts to defame Lohagad through misleading narratives ultimately disrespect this rich legacy,” Zirpe said.

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Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues .

Professional Background

Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature.

Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO.

Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives.

Awards and Recognition

Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.”

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Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions.

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