Dhruv Rathee Faces Backlash Over Sensitive Social Media Post on Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case
Dhruv Rathee, one of the most controversial YouTubers and social media commentators, has once again courted controversy over his insensitive handling of a tragic rape-murder case of a Kolkata doctor. The controversy broke out when Rathee posted about the case on social media, which he later deleted. However, he was further criticized for revealing the identity of the victim in a video. This incident has thrown open some serious questions vis-à-vis Rathee’s sensitivity and his understanding of legal and ethical standards relating to reporting of such cases.
Initial Post and its Public Reaction
It all began when Rathee posted, “Justice For Nirbhaya 2“, drawing parallels between the Kolkata doctor case and that of the infamous Nirbhaya case. The post drew flak instantly for its insensitivity, after which he deleted it. Speculations started, and many accused him of giving in to the alleged pressure of the ruling TMC government in West Bengal. The allegations ran the gamut of insinuations that Rathee removed the post to avoid probable repercussions from the political establishment.
Deleting the post did not deter the controversy. Later, he came out with his explanation for doing so, and admitted that the Nirbhaya case comparison was insensitive. “Because some people pointed out that it was insensitive to call (name hidden) as Nirbhaya 2. I thought over it and felt that they were right,” Rathee explained. But the situation only spiralled upwards with his next move.
Disclosure of Identity of Victim
The matter escalated when Rathee, in a subsequent post, used a hashtag mentioning the victim’s name. This act of revealing the identity of the victim received a lot of flak. Indian law treats the identity of rape victims as anonymous to protect their dignity and privacy. The Supreme Court of India has laid down stringent guidelines that prevent the name or identity of a victim from being disclosed, even with the permission of the next of kin of the victim. Rathee’s actions hence were considered a brazen violation of the legal and ethical law enunciated by these guidelines.
Various prominent persons cited the legal repercussions of Rathee’s act. Advocate Prashant Umrao, for instance, said, “Rathee has committed a gross error in revealing the identity of the rape victim. “When the rape victim is dead or of unsound mind, the name of the victim or her identity shall not be disclosed even under the authorization of the next of kin, ” Umrao said, emphasizing the stand of the Supreme Court. Many others, too shared the same view and condemned Rathee for his lack of discretion and regard for the laws that come into play in such cases.
Public Outrage and Condemnation
The public reacted very badly to Rathee’s exposure of the victim’s identity. Many criticized him for being careless and insensitive, all the more so considering the heinous nature of the crime. This raises a wider question as to the role of influencers and public figures in addressing sensitive topics, and more particularly, victims of heinous crimes.
Critics point out that Rathee has conducted himself, deliberately or otherwise, in a manner that betrays a very disturbing disregard for the ethical standards and legal requirements involved in reporting sexual violence cases. Deletion of the original social media post and subsequently exposing her identity questioned his credibility as a responsible social issues commentator.
The Tragic Case of the Kolkata Doctor
The controversy over Rathee’s social media actions unfolded against the background of a horrific crime. This was in regard to the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, a case that jolted the entire nation. It brought into light the fact that chronic problems of violence against women remain, and has shed light on their poor safety measures for healthcare professionals as well.
The unfortunate incident has also raised questions over the law and order situation in West Bengal. Many people are demanding that justice be delivered as soon as possible and the security of women at workplaces must be made more robust. At the same time, this case has drawn a lot of attention and increased the decibel level over larger issues like gender-based violence and systemic failure in dealing with such crimes.
Conclusion
Dhruv Rathee’s recent actions on social media regarding the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case have drawn a lot of flak and raised serious concerns over his level of sensitivity and knowledge about legal and ethical standards. His first post, the deletion, and later revelation of the victim’s identity were severely criticized, but they also bring into focus a wider set of questions related to the role of public figures dealing with issues sensitively.
The case of Rathee, therefore, is a reminder to us all of the requirement for ethical guidelines pertaining to all reporting of any tragic event so that the dignity of the victim facing public and legal scrutiny is respected. Secondly, it underlines the need for more awareness and sensitivity from the influencers and commentators when speaking about sexual violence and other sensitive issues.
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