SRINAGAR: A minor girl trolled for hugging her teacher during the inauguration of a coaching centre in Kashmir’s Anantnag on Oct 12 has said that teachers are “spiritual fathers” and urged authorities to take strict action against the online abusers who pushed her to the verge of depression and self-harm.“I am an online student and have been taking online classes… Meeting my mentor, who is a father-like figure, was a dream. I apologized to my teacher for being dragged into this controversy… The online abusers have played with my dignity,” she said.Women politicians across the political spectrum have voiced support for the girl.“Can we please stop harassing the minor? She’s well on the verge of suicide because of the unwarranted barrage of hateful comments. Leave her alone. Having a smartphone doesn’t give you the right to make someone’s life hell. Digital harassment is real in Kashmir,” PDP’s Iltija Mufti posted on social media.National Conference spokesperson Ifra Jan condemned the trolling, calling the abusers “vultures.” “Stay strong, girl. You are far braver and more dignified than all of them combined,” she said.Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Anantnag, said it has taken strong note of the circulation of a video involving the minor. “All social media handlers and individual account holders are strictly instructed to delete the said content and refrain from disseminating it further,” CWC said, warning that any violation would be dealt with under the Juvenile Justice Act and related rules, inviting imprisonment.
