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‘I Apologized, Threats Didn’t Stop’: Women Doxxed After Jantar Mantar
When a Protest Video Sparks a Storm: The Story of Online Harassment at Jantar Mantar
Published: July 31, 2026 | Source: The Hindu
What Happened?
Imagine you’re at a peaceful protest. You take a short, seven-second video just for fun—maybe with a silly song playing in the background. You post it online. Within an hour, over a million people have seen it. But instead of likes, you get rape threats, death threats, and strangers posting your home address and phone number.
This is exactly what happened to Shradha Singh, a 23-year-old Master’s student, after the Jantar Mantar protest ended on July 25, 2026.
The Video That Started It All
What Was in the Video?
- Shradha was at the protest site.
- Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel stood in the background. (RAF is a special police force for riots and crowd control—not the Army.)
- A Harpic toilet cleaner ad jingle played over the clip.
- She said it was meant "for entertainment purposes."
What Happened Next?
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Within 1 hour | Video crosses 1 million views on Instagram (she has 3.78 lakh followers). |
| Soon after | Meme pages and accounts repost it, claiming she insulted the Army. |
| Within the hour | Shradha deletes the video. |
| 3 days later | She posts two apology videos. |
| 5 days later (July 30) | Threats have not stopped. |
Important: Shradha says: "I did not insult the Army. The personnel were RAF. I did not say anything in the clip."
It Wasn’t Just Shradha — Other Women Were Targeted Too
The Hindu verified multiple cases of women protesters facing:
- Doxxing (sharing private info like phone numbers, addresses)
- Rape and death threats
- Photos and videos circulated with captions like "Teach them a lesson"
- One woman labeled "Most Wanted" — posts asked followers to find her location
- Fake claims that she "abused Prime Minister Modi"
- Zero FIR filed in Noida under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (new criminal law) Sections 352, 353(1), 356(1)
Zero FIR = A police complaint that can be filed at any police station, not just the one where the crime happened.
The Harassment Got Real — Offline Too
Shradha’s Experience:
- Threatening calls/messages "every other minute"
- Comment: "If I see you somewhere, I will kill you."
- Her mother’s Instagram had to be deleted after she got vile messages.
- Phone number & address leaked — found via her bike registration number.
- Lost clients (she’s a yoga instructor & content creator since 2020).
- Instagram restricted her features (like messaging) due to mass reporting.
Shradha: "They told me they had been paid to post it and would not remove it. I realised I was just a tool to propagate the agenda of these accounts."
Another Protester (22, anonymous, 3+ lakh followers):
- Her photo in a collage of 12 women accused of "abusing Modi" & "anti-India stance."
- Rape threats in comments.
- Harassed in a market — two men approached her with her mother.
- Relatives calling her parents after seeing videos.
- Refuses to delete posts or deactivate: "I have a right to express myself."
Who Amplified the Hate?
| Account / Page | Followers | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Anoop Khetan | 1.6 million | Shared video claiming "most wanted" woman identified, multiple FIRs filed. |
| The Jaipur Dialogues | Large | Amplified videos targeting women; got takedown notice for "derogatory, malicious, defamatory" content. |
| Hindutva Vigilant | Large | Shared videos, tagged Delhi Police for "legal action"; claims no personal info held. |
| Indic Matrix | Large | Claimed to know a participant’s address & phone number. |
| Rohit Sharma (Instagram) | — | Said a "list of individuals prepared," asked followers to share locations. |
Since July 23 — videos targeting women protesters have been circulating.
What the Accounts Say
Hindutva Vigilant to The Hindu:
"I only shared videos posted by the person who filed the complaint and tagged Delhi Police requesting appropriate legal action. I do not possess anyone’s personal information."The Jaipur Dialogues: Did not respond to email by publication time.
Key Terms Explained Simply
| Term | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| Doxxing | Posting someone’s private info (address, phone, ID) online without permission. |
| RAF (Rapid Action Force) | Special police unit for riots/crowds — not the Army. |
| Zero FIR | File a police complaint anywhere; they must transfer it to the right station. |
| Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) | India’s new criminal law (replaced IPC in 2024). |
| Mass Reporting | Many people report an account at once → platform may restrict it. |
| Takedown Notice | Legal request to remove content (defamation, privacy, etc.). |
Why This Matters
- Disproportionate Response — A 7-second reel → days of threats, doxxing, offline harassment.
- Coordinated Campaigns — Not random trolls; organised accounts amplifying hate.
- Women Targeted Specifically — Gendered abuse (rape threats), silencing dissent.
- Real-World Harm — Lost income, family trauma, physical confrontation in public.
- Platform Failure — Paid reposts, slow takedowns, mass reporting used as weapon.
Summary
- Shradha Singh, 23, posted a 7-second reel at Jantar Mantar protest (July 25) with RAF personnel & a Harpic jingle.
- Within 1 hour: 1M+ views → accused of insulting Army (it was RAF, not Army).
- She deleted it, apologised twice — but rape/death threats, doxxing continue for 5+ days.
- Multiple women protesters similarly targeted: doxxed, threatened, harassed offline.
- Large accounts (Anoop Khetan, The Jaipur Dialogues, Hindutva Vigilant, Indic Matrix) amplified the hate.
- One woman labeled "Most Wanted", Zero FIR filed in Noida under BNS.
- Shradha: lost clients, mom’s account deleted, address found via bike number.
- Another protester harassed in market with her mother — refuses to be silenced.
- Accounts claim "legal action" but share private info, refuse takedowns, allegedly paid to post.
FAQ
Was Shradha’s video really insulting the Army?
No. The uniformed personnel were RAF (police), not Army. She said nothing in the clip — just a Harpic jingle played. She deleted it herself when she saw people misunderstood.
What is doxxing and why is it dangerous?
Doxxing = publishing private info (home address, phone, ID) online. It enables stalking, harassment, physical danger — as happened here (men approached a protester in a market).
Can social media accounts be paid to harass someone?
Yes. Shradha said some accounts refused to delete her video, saying "they had been paid to post it." This suggests coordinated, incentivised harassment.
What is a Zero FIR and why does it matter here?
A Zero FIR lets you file a police complaint at any station — they must forward it. Here, one was filed in Noida under new criminal law (BNS) against a protester for allegedly "abusing PM Modi."
What can platforms like Instagram/X do better?
- Faster takedowns of doxxing/threat content.
- Stop mass-reporting abuse (used to silence victims).
- Label/ban coordinated harassment networks.
- Protect users’ private info (e.g., don’t let bike numbers reveal addresses).
Final Thought:
A student posts a silly reel. Days later, she fears for her life. Her mother is abused. Strangers hunt her address.
This isn’t "trolling." This is organised, gendered, digital violence — and it must stop.
