 "Who is Smriti Singh, widow of Indian Army soldier Capt Anshuman Singh? What is the lewd comment controversy?")
A row has broken out after some social media users made lewd remarks against Smriti Singh – the widow of Kirti Chakra awardee Captain Anshuman Singh – on social media.
The remarks were made on a photograph of Singh at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where she was accepting an award on behalf of her late husband.
Furious social media users have demanded action against the men who made the sleazy remarks.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also written to the Delhi Police to demand action.
“NCW condemns this behaviour and urges immediate police action,” the commission wrote on X.
But what do we know about Smriti and Anshuman?
Let’s take a closer look:
Anshuman died in a major fire in Siachen last July.
Anshuman, serving in the 26 Punjab Regiment, was a medical officer in the Indian Army.
He was stationed as a medical officer in Siachen during Operation Meghdoot.
As per The Times of India, the Indian Army Captain rescued several of his brothers-in-arms during the accident.
According to NDTV, an Indian Army ammunition dump in Siachen went up in flames on July 19, 2023, due to a short circuit.
Anshuman saw a fireglass hut catch fire.
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More ShortsWithout hesitation, he rushed in and rescued multiple people.
However, the blaze then spread to the medical investigation room nearby.
As per Indian Express, Anshuman lost his life while trying to retrieve life-saving medicine.
On July 22, 2023, Anshuman was cremated with full State honours in Bihar’s Bhagalpur.
On Friday, Anshuman was awarded the Kirti Chakra – India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award – by President Droupadi Murmu.
Smriti, Anshuman’s widow, accepted the award from President Droupadi Murmu during an investiture ceremony.
Wearing a white saree and grief on her face, the young wife of the late officer, with her mother-in-law Manju Singh by her side, remembered her late husband’s words.
“I would die with a brass on my chest. I would not die an ordinary death,” Anshuman had said.
The video posted on ‘X’ by the Ministry of Defence spokesperson has been widely shared on the social media platform.
In the clip, Smriti could be seen fighting tears as she shared that their relationship began with “love at first sight” and after eight years of long-distance relationship, they got married.
“So, we met on the first day of college. I don’t want to be dramatic but it was love at first sight. After a month, he got selected into the AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College). We met at an engineering college but then he got selected in a medical college. Super intelligent guy. From then on, after just one month of meeting, it was a long-distance relationship for eight long years,” she recalled.
“Then we decided to get married. Unfortunately, within two months of marriage, he got posted to Siachen. On July 18, we had a long conversation about how our life will be in the next 50 years. We are going to build a house, we are going to have kids, whatnot. On the 19th morning (last year), I got up, and I got a call that he is no more,” Smriti said.
She said that she has been unable to come to terms with the loss till today.
“For the first seven to eight hours, we could not accept that anything of that sort has happened. Till date, I am not coping. Just trying to figure out thinking maybe it is not true.
“But now that I have the Kirti Chakra in my hand, I realise it is true. But it’s okay, he is a hero. We can manage a little of our lives because he has managed a lot. He gave up his life and family so that the other three army families could be saved,” Smriti said.
In a post on ‘X’, Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “President Droupadi Murmu conferred Kirti Chakra upon Captain Anshuman Singh, The Army Medical Corps, 26th Battalion The Punjab Regiment, posthumously. Disregarding his own safety, he exhibited exceptional bravery and resolve to rescue many people in a major fire incident.”
It was on this post on which a photograph of Smriti was shared that the lewd comment was made.
President Murmu conferred 10 Kirti Chakras, including seven posthumously, to personnel of the army and paramilitary forces for displaying indomitable courage and extraordinary valour in the line of duty.
‘Arrest individual at earliest’
As per NDTV, the NCW said Ahmad K, a resident of Delhi, had made the lewd remark.
In a letter issued on Monday, the NCW referenced specific legal provisions that the comment violates, including Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which penalises acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman, and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which deals with the punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.
The letter outlines the penalties under these laws, noting that the offenses can result in imprisonment for up to three years and fines for first-time offenders, with harsher penalties for repeat offenses.
The NCW has asked the Delhi Police to promptly register a First Information Report (FIR) against the person and to arrest him at the earliest.
The commission has also demanded a fair and timely investigation into the matter and requested a detailed action taken report within three days_._
With inputs from agencies
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