The National Commission for Women (NCW) has intervened in response to the online abuse faced by Himanshi Narwal, the wife of Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who lost his life in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Ms Narwal has been targeted online after she appealed for communal harmony, urging people not to direct hate towards Muslims or Kashmiris in the aftermath of the tragedy.
In a statement posted on X, the NCW strongly criticized the trolling and called it both “condemnable and unfortunate,” emphasizing that no woman should be subjected to harassment for voicing her thoughts. “Many citizens were killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Along with other people, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal was asked about his religion and then shot dead. The whole country is hurt and enraged by this attack. After Lieutenant Vinay Narwal’s death, the way his wife, Himanshi Narwal, is being targeted on social media for a remark is extremely condemnable and unfortunate. Targeting a woman for her opinions or trolling her about her personal life is not acceptable at all,” read the commission’s post.
Reaffirming its commitment to women’s rights, the panel further stated: “Any agreement or disagreement must always be expressed decently and within Constitutional boundaries. The National Commission for Women is committed to protecting every woman’s respect and dignity.”
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also commented separately on X, stressing that while individuals are entitled to their opinions, targeting Ms Narwal with personal attacks is unjust. “Some people may not have liked Ms Narwal’s remarks, but it is not right to troll her for her opinions and target her with personal remarks,” she posted.
जम्मू-कश्मीर के पहलगाम में हुए आतंकी हमले में देश के अनेक नागरिकों की हत्या कर दी गई थी। इस हमले में अन्य लोगों के साथ लेफ्टिनेंट विनय नरवाल जी से उनका धर्म पूछकर उन्हें गोली मार दी गई थी। इस आतंकी हमले से पूरा देश आहत व क्रोधित है।
— Vijaya Rahatkar (@VijayaRahatkar) May 4, 2025
लेफ्टिनेंट विनय नरवाल जी के मृत्यु के पश्चात…
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and Himanshi had only recently tied the knot and were on their honeymoon in Kashmir when the young officer, aged 26, was killed alongside 26 others in a brutal act of violence. Haunting images of Ms Narwal beside her husband’s body, wearing her bridal chooda, deeply moved people across the country.
As outrage spread across social media following the attack, hateful sentiments were also directed at Muslims and Kashmiris. In her first public statement since the loss, Ms Narwal made an emotional plea: “I want the entire country to pray for him (Vinay), that wherever he is, he has found peace. That is all I ask,” she said. “There is something else I wish to say. I see hatred growing, directed at Muslims and Kashmiris. We do not want this. We only wish for peace—nothing else.”
She also called for justice against those responsible for the terror strike. However, her message of unity sparked a wave of online abuse, with some users going as far as to question her right to receive her late husband’s pension and make derogatory comments about her personal life. In contrast, many others expressed solidarity with her and urged authorities to take firm action against the trolling.
