Navy Officer’s Widow Trolled for Peace Appeal; Women’s Panel Condemns Abuse

After Navy officer Lt. Vinay Narwal was killed in the Pahalgam attack, his widow Himanshi was trolled for urging peace and rejecting hatred towards Muslims or Kashmiris. The National Commission for Women condemned the abuse, calling it unacceptable and reaffirming support for women expressing ideological views freely.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has condemned the online trolling of Himanshi Narwal, the widow of Navy officer Lt. Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The commission called the harassment "reprehensible" and stood firmly in support of Himanshi’s right to express herself without facing abuse.

In her first public statement after the tragedy, Himanshi had appealed for calm and urged the public not to direct hatred toward Muslims or Kashmiris, emphasizing that peace should prevail despite the trauma. Her remarks, however, triggered a wave of trolling on social media, with several users attacking her for expressing empathy amid grief.

Himanshi and Vinay had been married for just a week before the April 22 attack, which claimed 26 lives. The young couple was on their honeymoon in Baisaran near Pahalgam when Vinay was shot at close range by terrorists. According to reports, he was singled out after being asked his religion.

The NCW issued a statement via X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the online abuse and reiterating that disagreement with someone’s views should be expressed within constitutional and respectful limits. “Trolling a woman for her ideological beliefs or personal statements is not acceptable in any form,” the commission said.

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The panel also expressed its sorrow over the attack and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the dignity of women, especially those enduring personal loss. Political leaders and civil society figures echoed similar sentiments, calling for respectful discourse during times of national mourning.

Himanshi’s courage and call for peace amid personal tragedy have resonated with many, even as others use social media to spread division and hate.