Young women involved in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement in India have reported persistent harassment, including rape threats and identity exposure, after documenting anti-government demonstrations on social media. While the protest movement, which helped prompt the education minister’s resignation, utilized platforms like Instagram to share memes and videos, participants soon faced significant personal backlash.
The BBC interviewed four women who shared evidence of aggressive messages and doctored images directed at them. One activist noted that she was targeted with sexually explicit slurs and threats after criticizing the prime minister’s public statements. These women describe a pattern of intimidation that includes having their personal information leaked and their families contacted by strangers demanding they remove their content. In many cases, these individuals have been forced to lock their social media profiles or delete their posts entirely to ensure their safety.
Several participants highlighted a clear gender disparity in the abuse. While male peers frequently shared the same political sentiments, they largely avoided the sexually charged vitriol and gendered insults aimed at female protesters. For many of these students, the reality of political activism has become inextricably linked with the constant fear of digital surveillance and real-world threats against themselves and their relatives.
