Arrest those threatening Gurmehar, DCW chief Maliwal tells police
NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women’s chairperson Swati Maliwal on Monday wrote a letter to Delhi Police seeking immediate registration of a case against the miscreants who threatened Gurmehar Kaur, a student of Lady Shri Ram College and daughter of a Kargil martyr, on social media.
Kaur, on Monday afternoon, approached the Commission and filed a complaint seeking help over the threats that she received after she stood up in an online campaign against ABVP members, who were involved in violent clashes in Delhi University’s North Campus. She also submitted screenshots as proof of how some youth were continuously intimidating her with rape and death threats.
“I have received death threats stating how 2017 will be my last year. I have been verbally abused and called with inappropriate names,” the complaint stated.
Fearing her safety and that of her family, including her mother and sister, Kaur asked for security and requested taking strict against the people threatening her.
The Commission took cognisance of the situation and wrote to Delhi Police seeking action and arrest of the culprits.
In the letter, Maliwal wrote: “The Commission is deeply shocked at the impunity with which Gurmeher Kaur, a young student of Delhi University and the daughter of a Kargil martyr, has been attacked online. The Commission is of the view that urgent criminal action needs to be taken against the abusers.”
The letter further read: “It is highly unfortunate that a strong and independent young girl is being threatened and abused for taking a stand against hooligans. It is deeply perturbing that the threats appear to have silent support of some celebrities and leaders as well.”
The DCW chief further said: “It is a matter of shame that a martyr’s daughter is being attacked like this. We need to find who these people are that are targeting her. She has called for action against some ABVP members. An example needs to be set up by teaching these men a lesson and ensuring their arrest.”
“At present there is a despicable trend of people going online to attack women with taunts and threats. Delhi Police has to take responsibility for the safety of Kaur and her family,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kaur, while talking to Millennium Post said: “This is not a political issue. It is a silent campaign from my side.”
Kaur, who is the daughter of Kargil martyr Captain Mandeep Singh, received rape and death threats just a day after she took a stand and launched an online campaign against ABVP members who launched a violent tirade against students and teachers in North Campus on February 22.
The online campaign, called ‘Not Afraid of ABVP’, was followed by Kaur and many other DU students who posted pictures of themselves on social media websites holding placards which stated: “I am student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me”. She was immediately labelled ‘anti-national’ by some anti-social elements.