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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Mumbai/Kolkata/Silchar: A shocking incident aboard IndiGo flight 6E138 from Mumbai to Kolkata has gone viral, sparking outrage after a video emerged showing a man being slapped mid-flight while reportedly suffering a panic attack. The victim, identified as Hossain Ahmed Mazumdar from Assam, has since gone missing, and his family is seeking urgent answers.
The video, widely circulated on social media, shows Hossain in visible distress, attempting to leave his seat and reportedly requesting to deboard. As flight attendants tried to calm him down, another passenger suddenly approached and slapped him. The incident triggered immediate protest from fellow travellers.
A young man suffers a panic attack, his co passenger slaps him. Indigo airlines says “All appropriate regulatory agencies have been duly informed, in line with protocol.”
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) August 1, 2025
This is a criminal case and the man needs to be on a No Fly List @DGCAIndia pic.twitter.com/dY1gQC6ze0
Hossain, a gym trainer based in Mumbai, was en route to his hometown Katigorah in Cachar district via a connecting flight from Kolkata to Silchar. However, he never boarded the Silchar flight, and his mobile phone remains unreachable. His family, who had gathered at the Silchar airport, are now in distress. Zubairul Islam Mazumdar, a relative, said, “We have no idea where he is. We’ve contacted the police and airport authorities but haven’t received any concrete information.” His father, Abdul Mannan Mazumdar, who is undergoing cancer treatment, said tearfully, “He was our only hope. Now we don’t even know if he’s safe.” In a statement issued on August 1, IndiGo Airlines said: “We are aware of an incident involving a physical altercation on board one of our flights. Such unruly behaviour is completely unacceptable, and we strongly condemn any actions that compromise the safety and dignity of our passengers and crew. Our crew acted in accordance with established procedures. The individual identified as unruly was handed over to the security authorities upon arrival. Regulatory agencies have been informed as per protocol.”
We are aware of an incident involving a physical altercation on board one of our flights. Such unruly behaviour is completely unacceptable and we strongly condemn any actions that compromise the safety and dignity of our passengers and crew.
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 1, 2025
Our crew acted in accordance with…
However, the airline's statement has been criticised for failing to clarify what happened to Hossain after the incident, whether he received medical help, was detained, or was allowed to continue his journey.
Weak kneed response from @IndiGo6E . Has the man who got physical with a fellow passenger been put on a no-fly list? Has Indigo followed up on its complaint at point of disembarkation? If the passenger was handed over to the @CISFAirport were charges pressed? pic.twitter.com/qXMnfiBbFE
— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) August 1, 2025
The video triggered widespread anger on social media, with many users interpreting the slap as a possible hate-driven act. However, aviation journalist Jagriti Chandra of The Hindu offered a clarification on X, stating: “The passenger who assaulted a co-passenger aboard IndiGo flight was handed over to law enforcement agencies for unruly conduct. Incident occurred after one passenger was feeling uncomfortable in the flight and wanted to deboard. Both belong to the same religious community.”
The passenger who assaulted a co-passenger aboard IndiGo flight handed over to law enforcement agencies for unruly conduct. Incident after one passenger was feeling uncomfortable in the flight and wanted to de board.
— Jagriti Chandra (@jagritichandra) August 1, 2025
Both belong to the same religious community.
Incident on… https://t.co/f0QPXG5hxG
Despite this clarification, concerns remain about the airline's handling of a visibly distressed passenger, particularly in the context of mental health. Unverified posts circulating on social media claim that Hossain was later found, though there has been no official confirmation from authorities or the airline.
Alhamdulillah! Hussain Ahmed Mazumder, who was assaulted on an IndiGo flight while returning from Mumbai to Silchar and went missing, has now been found safe in Kolkata.
— Munir (@tapadar_1314) August 1, 2025
He is stable and in contact with his family. pic.twitter.com/MEGSGzHTk7