Indian FS Vikram Misri locks X account amid vicious trolling campaign; Daughter also targeted
New Delhi: India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, has protected his account on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) following a barrage of online abuse allegedly orchestrated by right-wing trolls. The coordinated harassment started after a ceasefire was announced between India and Pakistan on May 10, following a period of heightened military tensions dubbed "Operation Sindoor."
Vikram Misri should be Abused. He took the decision of Ceasefire, PM was just a messenger!#VikramMisri pic.twitter.com/m4ZzzPnrsy
— Arpit Sharma (@iarpitspeaks_) May 11, 2025
The trolls are said to have dug up old tweets of Misri and his family and launched personal attacks. The situation escalated further as Misri's daughter was also dragged into the controversy. Reports on social media allege that her mobile number was shared, and she was subjected to vicious abuse. Social media discussions suggested that the diplomat's daughter had previously advocated for Rohingya rights, which was purportedly used as a pretext by trolls.
The online troll against a top-ranking diplomat and his family has drawn widespread condemnation. Many have pointed out the irony of trolls, who were previously lauding Misri as a "patriotic Kashmiri Pandit," suddenly turning against him.
Several public figures and social media users have voiced their disgust at the targeted harassment.
Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), defended the Foreign Secretary, stating on X: "Mr Vikram Misri is a decent and an Honest Hard working Diplomat working tirelessly for our Nation. Our Civil Servants work under the Executive this must be remembered & they shouldn’t be blamed for the decisions taken by The Executive /or any Political leadership running Watan E Aziz."
Mr Vikram Misri is a decent and an Honest Hard working Diplomat working tirelessly for our Nation.
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 11, 2025
Our Civil Servants work under the Executive this must be remembered & they shouldn’t be blamed for the decisions taken by The Executive /or any Political leadership running Watan E… https://t.co/yfM3ygfiyt
Journalist Abhisar Sharma also strongly condemned the trolling. In a statement shared on social media, he remarked (translated from Hindi): "Now the limit has been crossed — is the 'sanskaari' propaganda machine now trolling Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri? Don't you have any shame? Vikram Misri is the same person who was strongly presenting India's diplomatic image to the world during this crisis. He was India's face at the international level... And now questions are being raised against him? ...This trolling is not just unethical, it is an attack on the morale of professionals serving the country. Those so-called 'sanskaari' goons targeting a respected officer like the Foreign Secretary, their patriotism is just a sham. They have no concern for the country or service — their loyalty is only to hatred, and their blind devotion is only to one political party. Those who are making obscene comments about the family of a senior officer, even his children, are actually a disgrace to society. There can be no bigger traitors than them. Shame on you — in the name of 'patriotism' you are only spewing venom."
अब तो हद हो गई है — अब संस्कारी प्रचारतंत्र विदेश सचिव विक्रम मिस्री @VikramMisri को ट्रोल कर रहा है? तुम्हें ज़रा भी शर्म नहीं आती?
— Abhisar Sharma (@abhisar_sharma) May 11, 2025
विक्रम मिस्री वही व्यक्ति हैं जो इस संकट में भारत की कूटनीतिक छवि को दुनिया के सामने मजबूती से रख रहे थे। वो भारत का चेहरा थे इंटरनेशनल स्तर पर,… pic.twitter.com/xfTpulPO06
Pratik Sinha, co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, in his post on X said, "36 hours ago, media was telling Modi supporters that Karachi has been destroyed. Since last evening they are having to not only deal with the fact that all of that was a lie, but also that Trump is showing Modi his place. How do they express what they are feeling? Through such toxicity, attacking a bureaucrat and his daughter, because they don't have the ethical bone to call a spade a spade, that is nothing can happen without Modi giving a green light."
36 hours ago, media was telling Modi supporters that Karachi has been destroyed. Since last evening they are having to not only deal with the fact that all of that was a lie, but also that Trump is showing Modi his place. How do they express what they are feeling? Through such… https://t.co/tyqYqVe3xf
— Pratik Sinha (@free_thinker) May 11, 2025
Alt News Co-Founder Mohammed Zubair in his post on X lamented, "First they went after Himanshi Narwal, The Wife of the Navy Officer Vinay Narwal. And now the same trolls are going after the Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri and his daughter, Abusing and sharing her mobile number."
Foreign Secretary of India, Vikram Misri has now protected his account.
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 11, 2025
Reason: Right wing trolls were digging out his old tweets with his family and abusing them. https://t.co/fuAE3A8fYc pic.twitter.com/yQpfQqaKKq
Numerous other social media users expressed their outrage.
One user described it as "the most heartbreaking thing," questioning the "intolerance" and emphasising that Misri is a civil servant, not a political leader responsible for government decisions.
There are growing calls for the government to take stringent action against those involved in the abuse and ensure the safety and dignity of its officials and their families.
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Chhattisgarh Vedanta power plant blast: Death toll rises to 20; sixteen workers undergoing treatment
Sakti (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): The death toll in a blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district has mounted to 20 with seven more workers succumbing to injuries, while 16 others are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, officials said on Wednesday.
The deceased include six labourers from West Bengal, five from Chhattisgarh, three each from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, two from Bihar, and one from Madhya Pradesh.
The opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine at the Vedanta Ltd power plant located in Singhitarai village, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries.
According to officials, four workers died on the spot, while nine others succumbed to injuries soon after the incident.
Seven more workers have died in hospitals, raising the toll to 20, Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno told PTI on Wednesday.
He said that a total of 36 workers were affected in the blast, and 20 of them died.
"Of the 16 injured workers, five are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Raipur, while 11 others are in hospitals of Raigarh, the neighbouring district of Sakti," he added.
Topno added that every possible effort was being made to provide the best medical treatment to the injured.
The deceased were identified, and their family members are being contacted. Arrangements have been made to transport the mortal remains to their native villages via ambulance following the postmortem examination and to provide immediate financial assistance, he said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
Vedanta Power has also announced a Rs 35 lakh compensation for the family of each deceased worker, along with employment support.
The company will also provide Rs 15 lakh to each injured person, ensure salary continuation until recovery, and offer counselling support, a statement from the plant management said.
The chief minister has ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of the Bilaspur division, assuring strict action against the guilty.
He directed officials to ensure free and proper medical treatment for all injured and emphasised that no negligence in their care would be tolerated.
The district administration has also ordered a separate magisterial probe, while the company has initiated its own internal investigation.
Collector Topno has appointed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Dabhra to conduct the magisterial inquiry.
The SDM has been asked to submit a report within 30 days covering key aspects, including the cause of the accident, whether it was due to technical or human error, and details of safety inspections carried out at the plant.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
State Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla on Wednesday alleged negligence on the plant management's part and accused the government of attempting to shield those responsible.
He also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 50 lakh for the injured.
The construction of a 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power project (two units of 600 MW each) in Singhitarai, originally owned by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd, started in 2009, but remained stalled between 2016 and 2022.
Vedanta acquired the plant in 2022, after which a 600 MW unit was completed and commissioned in August last year, while the second unit is still under construction.
The deceased have been identified as Amrit Lal Patel, Thanda Ram Lahre, Udhab Singh Yadav, Rameshwar Mahilange, and Nadeem Ansari (all from Chhattisgarh); Susanta Jana, Sheikh Saifuddin, Manas Giri, Kailash Mahto, Shibnath Murmu, and Dipankar Singh (West Bengal), Tarun Kumar Ojha, Abdul Karim and Ashok Parhiya (Jharkhand), Raju Ram, Pappu Kumar and Brijesh Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Aakib Khan and Ritesh Kumar (Bihar), and Chitranjan Dhulai of Madhya Pradesh, officials said.
