In a case of cyber harassment, a woman in Kerala’s Malappuram has alleged that she was targeted online by Indian Union of Muslim League (IUML) workers.
A photograph of the woman handing over a petition to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan became the target of online trolls, who turned it in a derogatory meme on social media.
The woman’s house at Tanur in Malappuram district was attacked during political violence between IUMl and CPI (M) workers recently.
Following the attack, she met with the Chief Minister seeking compensation to renovate her house, that had been damaged during the violence. The photograph was taken when she had handed over a petition to Pinarayi Vijayan when he visited Malappuram, as part of the bye-election campaign.
The woman alleges that IUML is behind the abusive and derogatory posts on social media, which questioned her morality.
“Few IUML workers are behind this. It has been 10 days since they started doing this, using fake Facebook IDs. The derogatory comments would affect my future as I am an unmarried woman. After my photo went viral, all my acquaintances ask me what the truth is. I can’t understand why they did this,” the woman told reporters in Malappuram.
She has filed a complaint with the DGP, Cyber Cell and District police chief.
Muslim League district leaders, however, have denied any links with the cyber harassment case and said the party was not related to the incident. It also added that the IUML does not encourage such actions.