Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Indian NCW official resigns over 'rape victim selfie'

A member of Rajasthan State Commission for Women, whose ‘selfie’ with a rape victim sparked an outrage has resigned after she and another women's rights advocate were pictured taking a smiling selfie with a rape victim.

Member of Rajasthan State Commission for Women clicking a selfie with the rape victim

Member of Rajasthan State Commission for Women clicking a selfie with the rape victim Source: Supplied

First emerging on the phone messaging service WhatsApp, the pictures were taken when members of the Rajasthan Commission for Women met the victim at a police station on Wednesday.

Somya Gurjar, who has since quit her position with the National Council For Women, was seen smiling as she snapped the selfie.

In the images, Gurjar is seen holding a tablet, with commission chairperson Suman Sharma holding the victim's hand - as if trying to showcase her tattooed arm in the picture.

Gurjar said the victim was "curious" about the camera and that the selfie was an attempt to "relax and normalize" her. "She said take my photo also. I only took her photo to put her at ease and because she asked for it. I was trying to be humane with her".

But the images of the selfie taking triggered a wave of outrage on social media, especially as it is illegal in India to publish information that leads to the identification of rape victims.


1 min read

Published

By Preetinder Grewal

Source: BBC



Share this with family and friends


Follow SBS Punjabi

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

Punjabi News

Watch now