In the vast, unregulated expanse of social media, a new breed of predator has emerged—one not bound by laws, morality or basic decency. Masked by anonymity and emboldened by echo chambers, these trollers represent a festering wound on the digital fabric of Indian democracy. The recent despicable abuse hurled at India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter is not just a personal attack—it is a national disgrace.

A glance at the venomous replies to a tweet involving Misri and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chilling. Users hurled vile slurs, questioned personal integrity and shamefully dragged family members into the line of fire. Terms like “gaddar” (traitor), “coward” and even vulgar insinuations about Misri’s daughter were freely spewed across platforms. What was the Foreign Secretary’s crime? Merely being associated with a ceasefire decision—interpreted by some as weakness or betrayal.

It would be a grave mistake to treat these online attacks as isolated incidents or harmless rants. These are not disgruntled citizens expressing dissent; these are digital lynch mobs, driven by coordinated agendas, who seek to discredit and destroy anyone in public service who doesn’t conform to their skewed definitions of patriotism or line of thinking. They employ psychological warfare—name-calling, humiliation, and targeted personal attacks—not just to express anger, but to intimidate and silence.

This pattern is neither new nor random. From journalists to bureaucrats, from activists to actors, a familiar cycle repeats: attack, amplify, retreat. The social media swarm descends like a pack of wolves, feeds on character assassination and then evaporates into the digital mist. The same templates are used: accuse of being a "sell-out," allege anti-national motives and drag families through the mud. The intention is not critique—it is erasure.

This was no isolated incident. It is part of a larger, growing pattern: swarm, shame, retreat. From journalists and judges to activists and bureaucrats, anyone stepping outside narrow ideological lines is pounced upon. These trolls are not lone wolves—they are coordinated attackers with an agenda.

Who Protects the Trollers?

Despite blatantly abusive and often criminal language, not a single individual from this virtual lynch mob has been booked. The law appears toothless. Is it apathy, helplessness or silent approval? The same cyber laws that target satirical cartoonists or minor critics remain curiously dormant when dealing with open threats and communal targeting from these trolls.

Their confidence stems from anonymity but also from a system that has allowed this behaviour to fester. Platforms rarely take down such content in time. Worse, some political actors have indirectly encouraged or benefited from troll behaviour. This is a crisis of both governance and ethics.

Trolling of this scale is not dissent—it is psychological warfare. It aims not just to shame or silence, but to destroy. When public servants and their families are dragged into such digital hate campaigns, it has a chilling effect on every upright individual in government or public life. The message is clear: stay in line, or be humiliated. Misri is only the latest in a string of professionals whose service was answered with cyber-bullying. Every honest voice driven off social media makes room for lies and noise. This is the slow death of credibility.

A Moral and Legal Call to Action

India must act now. First, laws like the IT Act and relevant IPC sections must be enforced swiftly and uniformly. No troll should feel immune. Second, social media platforms must be held accountable. Hate speech should not be amplified for profit.

Third, we need public education and cultural reset. Trolling should carry a social stigma. Just as physical abuse is condemned, digital abuse must become unacceptable in any civil space.

The abuse of Vikram Misri and his daughter drew rare political unity—leaders across parties condemned the attack. That solidarity must now convert into action. Let this be the last time a dignified public servant is made to suffer in silence.

Trolls are not critics. They are digital predators. It’s time we stop tolerating their venom in the name of democracy.

(Alok Verma is a veteran journalist and is also founder of www.nyoooz.com)

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