New Delhi: Prominent Indian journalist and author Rana Ayyub has become the target of severe online harassment after her phone number was leaked on the platform X (formerly Twitter) by a right-wing account called “Hindutva Knight.” The leak has intensified the threats Ayyub has faced throughout her career, particularly from supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its affiliates.
Ayyub, known for her investigative book 'Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover-Up', which delves into the 2002 Gujarat riots, expressed her deep concern over the implications of her personal information being exposed. In a post on X, she described the incident as part of a broader, systemic effort to silence dissent in India, particularly voices critical of the government and its policies.
The harassment began immediately after the phone number was posted, with Ayyub reporting receiving death and rape threats. To avoid further danger, she turned off her phone, but not before it was bombarded with obscene WhatsApp messages, video calls, and texts. In a post detailing her ordeal, Ayyub wrote that her family spent the entire night consoling her. "I have lived a nightmare," Ayyub wrote. "At around 1 a.m. tonight, this right-wing handle posted my number and asked his followers to harass me. My phone did not stop ringing. Video calls, obscene WhatsApp messages, this was targeted harassment.”
She tagged the Mumbai Police and the National Commission for Women (NCW), urging them to take action against the harassment. She also shared that she had archived the tweet containing her personal information, which had led to numerous people posting screenshots of their messages to the account.
The “Hindutva Knight” account, which has since been deactivated, has been linked to the spread of anti-Muslim rhetoric and has previously encouraged the doxing of individuals, particularly Muslim women. The account has also been associated with inciting violence against those who criticize the BJP or its Hindutva ideology.
Despite filing multiple complaints with both Mumbai Police and cybercrime authorities, Ayyub has expressed frustration over the lack of concrete actions being taken against the perpetrators. "This failure to act on complaints is part of a larger pattern where journalists, especially women, are harassed online, and no one is held accountable," Ayyub said.
Ayyub also filed a formal complaint at the cybercrime headquarters in Mumbai, urging authorities to act quickly and arrest the individuals responsible for the harassment. "The phone calls and harassment have not stopped. I hope the Mumbai Police and @CPMumbaiPolice take this seriously and arrest the culprits," she wrote.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage both in India and internationally. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an organization that promotes press freedom, condemned the harassment, with CPJ’s executive director, Beh Lih Yi, expressing her support for Ayyub. "We’re proud of @RanaAyyub’s work as a journalist. This relentless intimidation has to stop," Yi wrote on X.
This incident mirrors previous cases of online harassment targeting women, particularly journalists and activists critical of right-wing ideologies. Notably, it echoes the 'Bulli Bai' and 'Sulli Deals' incidents, where right-wing accounts auctioned images of Muslim women online. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of women, particularly those in the media, who continue to face harassment for their critical voices.