The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the arrest of 22-year-old law student and Instagram influencer Sharmistha Panoli and has issued a notice to the Director General of Police (DGP), West Bengal, seeking immediate measures to ensure her safety.
The action comes amidst reports of rape and death threats allegedly issued to Panoli following her arrest over a controversial social media post linked to “Operation Sindoor.”
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo, in a statement to ANI, said that the Commission received a detailed complaint from the Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), which alleged serious procedural lapses in the arrest and transit of Panoli, who was picked up by West Bengal Police from Gurugram, Haryana, during the night of May 30.
“We received a complaint from an organisation called Legal Rights Observatory regarding a law student who was arrested by West Bengal Police from Haryana in the middle of the night over an allegedly objectionable social media post. The complaint alleges that proper legal procedures were not followed during her arrest and transit. It also states that the girl has received threats from radical Islamists, including rape and death threats,” said Kanoongo.
In response, the NHRC has directed the West Bengal Police to ensure Panoli’s safety while she remains in judicial custody until June 13, following her remand by a local court.
Furthermore, the NHRC has also reached out to the Haryana government to verify if the due legal process was followed during Panoli’s detention and handover to West Bengal authorities.
“We have sought clarification from the Haryana government on whether all legal protocols were followed. Based on the responses, we will decide the next course of action,” Kanoongo added.
Meanwhile, in a new development, a police complaint has been filed against the 30-year-old Kolkata resident whose FIR, dated May 14, triggered Panoli’s arrest. Sources familiar with the matter said that the new complaint questions the intent and legality of the original FIR, which was filed over remarks allegedly hurting communal sentiments.
Panoli’s arrest has sparked debates on social media and in legal circles, with free speech advocates questioning the invocation of stringent laws and alleged irregularities in interstate arrest procedures.
The NHRC’s intervention adds a new layer of scrutiny to the controversial case.
