Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha harassed on Facebook
What's the story
President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, said that she was harassed on Facebook by a person by the name of Partha Mandal, who sent her sexually explicit messages on Friday. Sharmistha, currently serving as a Congress leader, said that she had made her profile public on the social media platform to gain access to the public. She has filed charges with the Delhi police.
Quote
Sharmistha files charges
"It is the abuser's sense of shame, not mine. I hope his friends and family get to know about the kind of person he is," Sharmistha said before filing charges at the Mandir Marg police station.
14 Aug 2016
Harassment cases abound on sexual harassment online
Upon receiving the explicit messages, Sharmistha's initial reaction was to report Mandal and block him, although she said that if she did so, it would only cater to the offender offending other victims. She said that she had obtained screenshots of Mandal's messages to report them, before lodging complaints on the same. Sharmistha took to Facebook to post about the incident, gaining massive support.
Quote
Sharmistha on the many cases women face with harassment
"It is not just me -thousands of women face similar harassments every day. I don't want the cops to do it (punish the accused) specially for me just because I am the President's daughter", Sharmistha said.
14 Aug 2016
Police looks to file FIR
Police officials from the Economic Offenses Wing said that they were looking to file an FIR under the IT Act and a few other IPC sections, charging the abuser. The officials said that they have approached Facebook to obtain details on Mandal, and are tracing the IP address from which he sent the messages. Sharmistha also requested other women facing abuse to lodge complaints.