The National Commission for Women (NCW) has strongly condemned the online harassment faced by Himanshi Narwal, the wife of Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The couple was on their honeymoon when the 26-year-old officer, along with 26 others, was gunned down in a brutal terror strike that shook the nation.
In the days following the attack, Himanshi made a heartfelt public appeal urging people not to direct hatred toward Muslims or Kashmiris. “We do not want this. We only wish for peace—nothing else,” she said. Her call for communal harmony, however, sparked a wave of online abuse. Trolls targeted her personal life, made derogatory comments, and even questioned her right to her late husband’s pension.
Reacting to the backlash, the NCW issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), denouncing the trolling as “extremely condemnable and unfortunate.” The commission emphasized that targeting a woman for her views or personal choices was unacceptable and violated the standards of civil discourse.
“Any agreement or disagreement must always be expressed decently and within Constitutional boundaries,” the NCW stated, reiterating its commitment to safeguarding the dignity and respect of women across the country.
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also spoke out on the issue, asserting that while not everyone may agree with Ms Narwal’s remarks, trolling and personal attacks are unjustifiable. “She deserves empathy, not vilification,” Rahatkar said.
The newlyweds had tied the knot only days before the tragedy. Heart-wrenching visuals of Himanshi sitting beside her husband’s body, her wedding chooda still on her wrists, captured national attention and sympathy. Her dignified response in the face of unimaginable grief touched many, but also triggered backlash from some quarters of social media users who misinterpreted her message of peace.
Despite the abuse, many others have come forward in support of Himanshi, lauding her courage and compassion, and calling on authorities to take strict action against online abusers.
Sources By Agencies