"I decided to stand up for myself and tell my story."
An Indian father told police that his son committed suicide and said that an online post from a female classmate was to blame.
The 17-year-old had shared the post on Instagram on May 4, 2020.
In the post, she alleged that in 2018, the boy had asked her to perform a sex act on him. The allegations come amid the ‘Boyslockerroom‘ controversy.
After the post went viral, the teenage boy was subjected to online abuse and trolling. On the same day, he took his own life by jumping from the 11th floor of his flat in Gurgaon, Haryana.
On May 7, 2020, the deceased’s father went to the police, stating that his son was harassed online and also called for legal changes regarding social media use among young people.
On the allegations against him, the boy’s father said:
“He wasn’t that kind of person. You can talk to anyone in his friends’ circle and in his school.”
Following the suicide, the girl revealed that those who had been harassing the boy have now turned on her. She has since closed her social media account.
She said: “I deactivated my account because of the filth I was being subjected to after his death. It’s sad he took this step. But, that doesn’t prove my story wrong.”
After the girl and her friends revealed experiences of being sexually harassed, she decided to share her experience on social media, accusing the boy.
“I told them about my experience. Everyone was shocked. They told me I should no longer be silent and that the story needs to be out there.
“In that moment, I decided to stand up for myself and tell my story. I knew I’ll be trolled but I wanted to say it.”
After uploading her post, her friends reposted it, tagging the boy. He was subsequently trolled. His friends said he was shamed and threatened.
One friend of the boy explained: “He even pleaded with one of the girl’s friends, who had reposted the story, to take it down and that it was not true.
“He wanted her to understand his side of the story. But they were relentless. When several people started abusing him online, he panicked. He reached out to us and was sobbing.”
The girl stated that she mentioned the boy’s name but did not tag him, however, her friends did which led to other people identifying him.
According to her allegations, the boy and her had befriended each other and had arranged to meet.
After arriving at the girl’s apartment block, they went on a walk which allegedly led to the basement. She claimed that he touched her inappropriately.
She explained: “I was alarmed and pushed him away. I tried running away but he held me and pulled me.
“He then started demanding sexual favours. I pushed him with greater force and ran upstairs.”
“He came up and told me he had forgotten his wallet in the basement and I should accompany him to find it. I refused and went home.
“I blocked him everywhere after that.”
According to the Indian father, he has filed a police complaint in order to stop false rumours from being posted online.
In the complaint, he accused the girl, Instagram and those who abused his son.
He went on to say that it was shame, fear and anxiety caused by the post that drove his son to suicide.
A classmate had told the father what had led his son to take his own life.
He added: “My son was informed by his friends about the post. I was also told that my son also received illegal and unlawful threats on the phone.”
According to Times of India, Police Commissioner Mohammad Akil stated that an investigation was underway and that statements would be recorded.
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