Police arrest two in connection with Geethanjali trolling case
Following the death of G. Geethanjali, 32yearoldmother of two girls, due to alleged social media trolling, the police have apprehended two suspects in the case. Geethankali allegedly ended her life at Tenali railway station recently.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi said, “Using opensource intelligence, cyber teams, and other resources, we compiled a database of accounts that were used to harass her. From this database, we have identified 60 account holders. We have taken two individuals, Rambabu, 46, and Venkat Durga Rao, 31, into custody. We will be presenting them before the magistrate for remand. We will also take legal action against other individuals involved in this case.”
The SP said that Geethanjali was a beneficiary of the government’s land patta scheme, and she gave an interview to a channel with great excitement. However, as the interview went viral, she faced heavy trolling, including sexual remarks and questions about her marriage. The trolls even abused her parents. Unable to bear the harassment, she refrained from leaving her home for a few days and eventually resorted to the extreme step of attempting suicide, he said.
Mr. Dudi advised victims of social media trolling to consult the police and said they would keep the victims’ details confidential. He advised victims to consult police by lodging a complaint, or reach out to them via Disha App or by calling helpline numbers 1930 or the State women helpline 91548 80389. He said victims could contact the Disha DSP at 86888 31465 in an emergency. He urged victims to avoid taking the extreme step.