With actor Rhea Chakraborty under the scanner over the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, social media has gone into overdrive. New developments - verified or otherwise - surface on a regular basis, and the demands for justice are interspersed with warnings about the villainy of Bengali women.
Now, for those who remain firmly unaware, the actor had died nearly two months ago, on June 14. He had been found hanging, and the initial reports had indicated a suicide. The Mumbai police had continued investigations with the Bihar Police, and now the CBI getting involved. At the same time, the Enforcement Directorate is probing a possible money laundering angle. Rhea Chakraborty along with several family members were named in the FIR filed by the late actor's father under various sections of the IPC including abetment of suicide.
And soon after, netizens began to urge others to avoid "dominating" bengali women. The rather vitriolic comments had prompted many to speak out against the trend, but as with all social media trends, it continues to persist.
According to an article by The Hindu, the Kolkata Police has now written to these social media platforms in connection with the allegations. Reportedly, the West Bengal Commission for Women had approached the city police after receiving complaints of online harassment.
The article quotes Chairperson Leena Gangopadhyay to add that the Commission had received more than 30 such complaints in around a week. "Since a girl from a community is being investigated, it does not mean Bengali women can be abused and targeted on social media," she was quoted as saying.
According to The Hindu's report, cases have been filed under sections of the IPC and the IT Act, pertaining to stalking, criminal conspiracy and insulting the modesty of a woman.