“Anonymity doesn’t help” online trolls, admits Ramkumar, one of the persons investigated by the police for trolling Dhanya Rajendran, editor-in-chief of The News Minute. He has now recorded a video in which he admits to having trolled the journalist and apologises to Ms. Rajendran saying that he has now “learnt a lesson”.
Mr. Ramkumar, who created a hashtag on Twitter to troll Ms. Rajendran, says in the video that he didn’t know that she was a journalist and attacked her presuming she is a fan of actor Ajit.
“I am glad that at least one person has come forward to apologise. And like he himself says, anonymity is not a permanent shield, and when you break the law, you can get into trouble. I hope other youngsters take this as an example,” Ms. Rajendran told The Hindu.
On August 4, Ms. Rajendran expressed her opinion about a Hindi film on Twitter, saying that she walked out midway, and compared it to a film by actor Vijay. Following this, abuses were hurled at her on Twitter. After ominously warning her to wait till 6.00 p.m., a concerted trolling campaign began with vicious and abusive name-calling, and even rape threats. Read more
In the video, Ramkumar appeals for people to refrain from trolling and use of abusive language on social media. “Take my life as an example” he says. “Police came to investigate in my house, questioned my mother. This has caused hardship to my family. There wasn’t anyone to support me, except for my family. Anonymity doesn’t help.”
