The Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered a case against an allegedly derogatory letter circulating on social media that contained baseless and scandalous allegations aimed at harming the reputation of senior women officials holding public office.
In a statement posted on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, the J&K Police said: “Crime Branch has taken cognizance of the complaints lodged by the women functionaries and has registered a case FIR No. 04/2024 under Sections 467, 471, 500, 509 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66C of the IT Act. An investigation has been initiated.”
Press Release
J&K Police has received a series of complaints from Senior Women Functionaries holding public office along with other supporting material alleging therein that for last few days a scurrilous communication is being circulated in various internet based social media…
— J&K Police (@JmuKmrPolice) May 3, 2024
The case pertains to a communication purportedly made in the name of “Manish Sharma” of Pir Panjal Times news outlet. According to the police statement, they “received a series of complaints from Senior Women Functionaries holding public office along with other supporting material alleging therein that for last few days a scurrilous communication is being circulated in various internet based social media (Whatsapp, etc).”
The statement characterized the content as containing “baseless, scandalous and derogatory allegations aimed at harming the reputation and integrity of not only these lady public figures, but the public institutions and government organizations.” Women’s rights activists have welcomed the swift action taken by authorities, citing the need to crackdown on misogynistic behavior and harassment targeting women in positions of power and public service. The investigation remains ongoing.
