Bulli Bai targeting Muslim women: Delhi Women's panel lashes at Police for callous attitude
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New Delhi: Lambasting law enforcement for the lack of progress made in two separate cases where perpetrators created apps using photographs and details of Muslim women to harass them, the Delhi Women's Commission pointed out that the "callous" attitude of law enforcement is what have the culprits' courage to repeat their misdeeds.
"DCW is appalled to note that no persons have been arrested in the (earlier) matter by Delhi Police despite passage of several months. The callous attitude of the law enforcement agency has emboldened culprits and others who are continuing to 'sell' women and girls online," reads the notice," the body said in its summons to Delhi Police on Saturday.
The move comes six months after a women journalist filed an FIR against unknown persons who created the "Sulli Deals" app which claimed to "auction" Muslim women, featuring their photos and names. A similar app, "Bulli Bai" was busted days ago and deleted from GitHub after public outcry.
DCW Chief Swati Maliwal has asked DCP (Cyber Cell) to give details of cases and action taken against GitHub and the current status of the probe. The DCP has been directed to appear before the DCW on January 6 with case files.
"We suspended user accounts following the investigation of reports of such activity, all of which violate our policies. GitHub responds to law enforcement requests that comply with established legal procedures. We informed India police of our policy in this case, and will assist upon receiving valid legal process from them," GitHub's statement on the matter reads.
A Delhi-based woman journalist has also filed a case after finding herself on the Bulli Bai app, where she was advertised as "Bai of the Day". Various other Muslim journalists, activists and prominent figures were advertised this way including 52-year-old Fatima Nafees, mother of JNU student Najeeb Ahmed who has been missing for five years.
While no culprits have been arrested in the "Sulli Deals" issue, a 21-year-old engineering student has apparently been arrested in connection with the Bulli Bai app although police have not released any details yet.
"Though we cannot disclose the details at this moment as it may hamper the ongoing investigation, I would like to assure all the victims that we are proactively chasing the culprits & they will face the law very soon," said Maharashtra administer of State for Home (Urban) Satej D. Patil.