Kerala: TV anchor receives threat calls, called prostitute' after debate

Thiruvananthapuram: Echoes of the ruckus in Parliament over the Mahishasura comment, by HRD Minister Smriti Irani, were heard in newsrooms across the country. But Sindhu Sooryakumar, anchor who moderated a debate on the topic on a local channel in Thiruvananthapuram, is having to bear the brunt over something she had little to do with. With over 2,000 hate calls abusing her and threatening her, Sindhu has become the target of misguided ire of pro-Hindutva groups.

“I have been getting calls every minute. The main allegation is that I abused Durga, calling her a sex worker. Most of the abusers called me a prostitute and abused me. Some threatened me while others didn’t even know what the charge was. I got a call this morning from someone asking whether I was Durga. Another person called me sometime ago, saying I had posted something against Durga on Facebook, and that he wanted to abuse me for that,” The Indian Express quoted Sindhu as saying.

The report also pointed out that the ‘derogatory comments’ on Durga was actually quoted by Kerala BJP State Secretary, from the pamphlet allegedly published by the JNU students. Union Minister Smriti Irani also quoted her controversial statements in the Parliament form the same pamphlet.

Five people have been arrested so far regarding the case, following a complaint by Sindu. All of those arrested belong to the various pro-Hindutva groups including Sri Ram Sena.

One of the accused from Thiruvananthapuram revealed to the police that he got the news presenter's number after it was shared in a WhatsApp group called Sanga Dhwani. The members of the group were asked to call and abuse her “for a Facebook post on Durga”, the man claimed.

The news channel’s routine functioning has also taken a hit after the incident, with the usual lines clogged with hundreds of phone calls trying to reach Sindhu.