14 DAY TRIAL // A woman has been arrested by the Chennai City Police for harassing Indian playback singer Chinmayi Sripada on Twitter.
Chinamayi filed a complaint on October 18, as she believes that several Twitter users were harassing her, making what she described as “casteist” and vulgar complaints about her and her mother, the Hindu reports.
The Information Technology Act and Section 4 of Prevention of Women Harassment Act in India protects Chinamayi against bullying and harassment online.
User Sharankay was taken into custody, after her IP address was traced. She had tagged the woman on Facebook as well, and left hurtful remarks on her Twitter profile.
“The problem started two years ago after they included me on a hash-tag on a fishermen’s issue and wanted me to support the cause. I did not entertain the request as there were vulgar comments about many top leaders,” Chinmayi said.
After refusing, she was faced with dealing with commentaries that relayed her as an opposer of the Tamil ethnic group.
“They even passed vulgar comments on my mother. Most of my tweets were misquoted to give a feeling that I am against Tamil, Tamil Tweeters and bloggers and also against Sri Lankan Tamils. Some even started tagging me on Facebook,” the singer explained.
Sharankay was identified as architecture graduate Sarvana Kumar Perumal. The Cyber Crime Cell of the Chennai City Police found she had made said comments from her laptop and mobile phone.
Commisioner Geroge of the Chennai police warns against cyberbullying, which can cause disorders and even lead to suicide.
“Such acts can torment women and in some cases, even lead to suicides. Even today [on Monday], we received a complaint stating that a school girl was being targeted online. The punishment for such crime is stringent,” he says.
Twitter users Rajan, Rajanleaks, Senthilchn, Asharavkay, Losongelesram, Vivajilal and Thyirvadai are allegedly on the same list of names involved in the harassing.