Wife of Navy officer killed in Pahalgam trolled, women's panel steps in

The National Commission for Women has come out in support of Pahalgam attack victim Vinay Narwal's wife, Himanshi, saying that trolling a woman for her ideological expression is "not acceptable in any form".

The Indian Navy officer's wife, in her first comments following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, appealed to the masses not to have hatred towards Muslims or Kashmiris.

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Vinay Narwal and Himanshi had got married just about a week before the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran near Pahalgam that left 26 people dead. The two were on their honeymoon when terrorists shot the Naval officer point-blank.

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On Thursday, Himanshi made an emotional appeal and said, “I just want the entire nation to pray for him (Vinay) that wherever he is, he is at peace. That’s the only thing I want. There is one more thing I want. There should be no hatred towards anyone. I’m seeing this happening that people are spewing hate at Muslims or Kashmiris. We do not want this. We want peace and only peace.”

‘Reprehensible, unfortunate’

Following her remarks, the Naval officer's wife was heavily trolled on social media platforms.

NCW took note of the trolling and condemned the act. In a statement on X, the body said, “After the death of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal ji, the way his wife Ms. Himanshi Narwal ji is being targeted on social media in relation to one of her statements is extremely reprehensible and unfortunate.”

"Trolling a woman on the basis of her ideological expression or personal life is not acceptable in any form," it added.

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Further, the panel suggested that expressing any agreement or disagreement should always be done with "decency and within constitutional rights".

"The National Commission for Women is committed to protect the dignity and respect of every woman," it added.

NCW also expressed anguish over the death of several citizens in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and noted how Vinay Narwal was "shot dead along with others after asking him about his religion".

"The entire country is hurt and angry by this terrorist attack," NCW added.