Young Indian women who participated in recent anti-government protests and shared their experiences online have become targets of severe online abuse, including rape threats, doctored images, and doxxing. The movement, known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), heavily utilized social media platforms like Instagram to document protests, share memes, and mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the protests, which saw police use tear gas and baton charges on July 20, some participants have faced criminal cases. However, many women report a parallel reckoning online, with strangers trawling their photos, spreading fabricated images, and sending abusive messages.
One content creator described being slut-shamed and attacked for her political commentary. A college student's protest video, shown on national television, led to her college being identified and threats of police action. Another student activist, a member of a religious minority, has faced relentless online harassment, including doctored images and accusations of being anti-national. A student from West Bengal, who helped organize supplies and run an online fundraiser, reported receiving messages calling her a prostitute. The fear of repercussions has led many women to delete posts, lock their social media accounts, and avoid unknown callers, with some expressing deep concern for their parents' safety.