Mumbai content creator files cyber abuse complaints, says police discouraged FIR over acid attack threats

A queer feminist content creator has filed two cases with Mumbai Police over alleged harassment and cyber abuse including threats of acid attack She has also alleged that police discouraged her from registering an FIR in the second case despite the severity of the threatsPiciStockTwo incidents Feb 14 Confrontation with a man allegedly photographing women at Juhu beach Postincident Online backlash and alleged acid attack threats Police stations involved Juhu police station Vile Parle police stationHelplinesMumbai Police 100Womenrsquos helpline 1019At Juhu beachOn February 14 the content creator said she was hosting a ldquoGalentinersquos Dayrdquo gathering at Juhu beach when a man allegedly began taking photographs of women in her groupldquoWe always look to host such days in public spaces as attendees can enjoy them for free We wanted to go to a park but gatherings are rarely allowed in Mumbai so we went to the beachrdquo she said She added that when confronted the man admitted to taking the photosldquoWe saw a man clicking photos of women from our group and when we confronted him he boldly claimed that he did do it And then we took him to the police who were at the beach and in front of the police we beat him up as he had started abusing us while we were waiting for themrdquo She subsequently filed an FIR with Juhu police and posted a video of the incident on social mediaPolice responseSenior Inspector Gabaji Chimate of Vile Parle police station said ldquoAs I donrsquot have an exact idea of what the case is I will look into the matter and make sure that we help the lady in question We also request women not to hesitate to come to us for help and register complaintsrdquoThe Juhu police told midday that they acted swiftly after receiving a call from the content creator on February 14 following which an FIR was registered A charge sheet has since been submitted before the magistrate and the matter is now pending before the courtScreenshots of abusive messages and threats sent to the queer content creator on Instagram following the Juhu beach incident she reported to the policeOnline threatsFollowing the post the creator said she received abusive comments and threats online including threats of acid attackldquoThe acid attack threat was graphic and encouraged all the men to find my address and pour acid over me or get me into an accidentrdquoldquoI couldnrsquot understand why other men were getting so agitated with it They went as far as calling me slurs and threatening me with accidents and attacksrdquoShe then filed a second complaint with the Vile Parle policeAllegations against policeThe content creator alleged that she was discouraged from filing an FIR in the cyber threat caseldquoWhen I had gone to register the complaint about the threats I had gotten on social media an officer before taking my FIR had told me that I had provoked the men by posting the video and though these men are threatening me with such things no one would actually do thisrdquoShe said she was advised to make her account private or block direct messagesldquoI was told after the FIR was lodged to private my account or block all DMs which is when I explained to them that it is my bread and butter and I couldnrsquot do thatrdquoShe further alleged that an officer compared her situation to public figuresldquoThe officer told me that I have to be strong like PM Narendra Modi and CM Devendra Fadnavis who also get threats and abusesrdquoThe creator also cited a past incident at Bandra railway stationldquoA female officer asked me to cover up with a shawl before filing the FIR Such cases make not only me but many other women uncomfortable going to the policerdquo