Netizens react sharply to victim’s unclothed photo

LUCKNOW: With the numbers and brutality of crimes against women rising at a shameful speed across the state, inhumanity comes as little surprise. But the society touched a new low as blood-soaked, unclothed photographs of the 35-year-old Mohanlalganj rape victim went viral on mobile applications. The incident not only evoked huge criticism among netizens, but also sparked an online debate on the sensibility of the people who ‘leaked’ the photos.

“I was shocked when I received the nude pictures of the victim. The media is also flashing blurred pictures of victim, which is even more inhuman. Disclosing a rape victim’s identity is against the Supreme Court guidelines. How can anybody do this?” posted one Anuranjita on the social networking site facebook.

Similarly, Vishnu Pandey, a lawyer in the high court, expressed shock when he received the victim’s pictures on WhatsApp. “Circulating pictures of the victim on social media sites and phone apps is appalling to say the very least and against the court’s guidelines. One of the photographs showed policemen clicking pictures of the body rather than covering her. How insensitive can we get?” he asked.

However, some argued that such gory photographs were necessary to sensitise people and raise awareness. “It (the photographs) should be shared. Why hide our very own society’s real face? Let everyone see what has been done, how brutally it has been done. (sic),” wrote a blogger. But, not many were ready to buy this, saying it could ruin the life of the victim’s kids and family. (With inputs from S Farah Rizvi & Sangeeta Pandey)