Hanan welcomes action against cyberbullies, KWC orders probe

Kochi: Kerala Women's Commission (KWC) chairperson MC Josephine on Saturday called on Hanan Hamid, a college girl from Kochi who drew accolades after she was seen selling fish to support her studies and later became a target of defamatory online campaign.

Josephine said attack on women is not a 'novel' issue and misogynists have found novel ways to carry out such crimes making use of technological advances.

Talking to the media, Hanan welcomed the police action against the cyberbullies who ran a smear campaign against her and noted that she was satisfied with the support offered to her.

Also read: Wayanad vlogger arrested for triggering hate campaign against Hanan

“Yes, I am aware of the ongoing police investigation. I know that someone has already been taken into custody. I am satisfied with the actions,” she said.

Independent probe on

Josephine also announced that KWC is proceeding with an independent probe and legal actions apart from the police probe.

"The KWC has the right to conduct independent probe into issues affecting women. We will form a committee to investigate the cyber defamation faced by Hanan. We will ask the suspects to present themselves before the panel and examine the evidence. We don't have to wait for someone else to file a complaint. We are taking up the issue all by ourselves,” Josephine said.

Also read: Women's panel to the aid of fish selling girl Hanan

Speaking to the media at Madavana, Kochi, Josephine said women have been silent for centuries and society had taken her for granted that way. In the changing times, women have started voicing their concerns. There is a tendency to suppress such bold voices, which needs to be resisted, she said.

Words, not deeds, provoked panel

The outrageous comments against Hanan rather than any action or threat of action by the netizens forced the panel to take action.

Verbal abuse on a women is totally a different crime from physical and mental abuse. Words denote attitudes and concepts. KWC was shocked to see the kind of words cyberbullies used against young Hanan, Josephine said.

Also read: Pinarayi, VS laud brave Hanan, call for action against cyberbullies

After the photograph of Hanan selling fish in her college uniform went viral on social media, a section of netizens staged a cyber attack on her, alleging that she was staging a publicity stunt for an upcoming film

which she is set to be part of shortly. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state women's panel and several other political leaders had come up offering support to Hanan.

Noorudeen Sheikh, a Wayanad-based vlogger who kick-started the hate campaign against Hanan, was taken into police custody by police on Friday morning.