The National Commission for Women (NCW) has come forward in support of Himanshi Narwal, the wife of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who tragically lost his life in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, on April 22.
The attack, which resulted in the death of 28 individuals, including 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri guide, has sparked widespread outrage.
However, Himanshi Narwal, despite her grief, became the target of online harassment after expressing a heartfelt plea urging people not to target Muslims and Kashmiris in the aftermath of the incident.
Himanshi’s message called for unity and understanding, emphasizing that only those responsible for the attack should be held accountable and not innocent Muslims or Kashmiris.
Despite the emotional sincerity of her statement, many online users responded with hateful comments, condemning her for expressing solidarity with the Muslim community.
One user, @viklondon13, wrote, “Fk you and the Islamists who killed Col. Narwal. And fk this dumb widow as well.”
Another comment from @shubham63542589 read, “All of a sudden u love defence personnel, what a hypocrite u guys are haha, we don’t give a fk about her.”
The NCW condemned these actions, calling the online trolling a clear violation of a woman’s dignity and a harmful expression of public dissent.
In a statement, the Commission noted that while Narwal’s views might not have been universally accepted, it was unjust to subject her to such online abuse, especially given the tragedy she had just endured.
The NCW highlighted that any disagreements should be expressed in a respectful and civil manner, in accordance with the values of the Indian Constitution.
While the country has condemned the terrorist attack, there has been a disturbing trend of backlash against Kashmiris and Muslims in India.
Following the incident, many Kashmiris living outside the Valley—students, businesspeople, and even shopkeepers—have reported being targeted with violence and discrimination.
Several have been forced to leave their rented accommodations or faced physical assaults in various states, including Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, 26, was shot during the Pahalgam attack while he and his wife were enjoying a meal at a local eatery. His wife, Himanshi, despite the deep loss, displayed remarkable strength, standing by his coffin in Delhi and bidding him a tearful farewell.
Her emotional farewell and her subsequent message for peace and unity have garnered significant attention, but unfortunately, it has also led to the online vitriol against her.
The NCW has emphasized that online harassment in any form, particularly in the wake of such tragedies, is not acceptable. The Commission’s statement underscores the importance of protecting every individual’s dignity, especially during moments of collective grief.
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
