"They are abusing Babasaheb Ambedkar, they are abusing me, threatening to assault and rape me. It's become difficult to go outside my house. It is easy for them to attack me because I am a Dalit woman and they feel they can do anything to me."

Meena Kotwal

Journalist Meena Kotwal has been facing a relentless barrage of death threats and rape threats ever since she posted a video on social media of her burning the Manusmriti on 25 December 2021. She claims that those making the threat calls identified themselves as members of the VHP, Bajrang Dal, and Karni Sena.

Kotwal tells The Quint, "I have said nothing wrong in the video. The Manusmriti contains a lot of anti-women and anti-Dalit content. Babasaheb Ambedkar had also burned the Manusmriti, on 25 December 1927. Since then, Ambedkarites have been observing the day as Manusmriti Dahan Divas."

"Every year, lakhs of people burn a symbolic image of the Manusmriti as an act of resistance. I have done the same, but I am being constantly abused for it. I think it is because I am a Dalit woman who is vocal about the rights and issues of the community."

Meena Kotwal, journalist

Following a complaint by Kotwal, the Delhi Police have registered an FIR on the threats against her, under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and two sections of the IPC (criminal intimidation and intention to insult the modesty of a woman). ‘They Threatened That I Will Suffer the Same Fate as Gauri Lankesh’

"Those threatening me are calling and telling me that I will suffer the same fate as slain journalist Gauri Lankesh. I am a journalist, my work is on the field. But the way these people have been threatening me, I am worried that they may physically attack me. "

Meena Kotwal

Kotwal adds, "If they try to fight me legally, I am ready for that. If they wish to register an FIR or a case against me, I am ready for that because I have not done anything wrong. I request the police and the government to provide me security arrangements because anything untoward could happen, at any time."

On December 30, 2021, Ms. Kotwal filed a complaint with the Ambedkar Nagar Police Station in New Delhi, with details of the numbers she was being threatened and abused from and enclosing screenshots of the abuses and threats. The SHO of the Ambedkar Nagar police station Mr. Mukesh Kumar Moga asked the Sub inspector Mr. Bansi Lal to file Ms. Kotwal’s complaint. According to her the SI Mr. Lal made her sit for a long time and advised her on not to do such things instead of filing her complaint. On her saying that she needs the receipt of the FIR, he said that it will take time. Ms. Kotwal said that she will meet the DCP and return to take the paperwork for the FIR. After she submitted a copy of the complaint to the Addl. DCP South West Delhi Ms. Benita Mary Jaiker, she was told that her FIR will be filed in the Ambedkar Nagar Police Station. She went back there but an FIR based on her complaint was not filed and since then she has been running pillar to post to get her FIR filed. According to the guidelines issued by the Delhi Police, a woman can lodge a complaint via email or registered post or even send a written complaint through an email or registered post addressed to a senior police officer of the level of Deputy Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. The officer then directs the SHO of the police station, of the area where the incident occurred, to conduct proper verification of the complainant and lodge an FIR. The police can then come over to the residence of the victim to take her statement. The FIR has to be filed and then an investigation takes place. However, so far no FIR has been lodged on Ms. Kotwal’s complaint. We fear that this apathy of the police is a sign of indifference and negligence of the Delhi Police towards crimes against Dalits, specially Dalit women, who often face apathy and hostility towards them in a police station. We are shocked that the FIR based on the complaint of a Dalit WHRD was not filed despite her repeated attempts. This inaction of the Delhi police has put the Dalit WHRD in grave danger from the death threats she is getting.