Pahalgam Attack: Netizens Slam Himanshi Narwal, Link Her to Muslim Cult

The Pahalgam attack occurred on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front. Among the victims was Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was on his honeymoon with his wife, Himanshi Narwal, just six days after their wedding. The Pahalgam attack involved gunmen targeting tourists, reportedly asking their religion before shooting them in front of their families, an act that sparked widespread outrage in India.

Himanshi Narwal became a focal point of public attention after a viral image depicted her grieving beside her husband’s body, her wedding bangles still on, symbolizing the tragedy’s brutality. However, she faced significant online trolling and controversy following her public appeal for peace, where she urged people not to target Muslims or Kashmiris in response to the attack. This statement, made at a blood donation camp on what would have been Vinay’s 27th birthday, aimed to prevent communal hatred but triggered a backlash from some netizens.

Details of the Controversy and Trolling, After the Pahalgam Attack

Himanshi’s Peace Appeal: Himanshi Narwal publicly stated, “People going against Muslims or Kashmiris – we don’t want this. We want peace and only peace,” emphasizing unity and condemning communal violence. This was supported by some, including the National Commission for Women (NCW), which praised her call for harmony but acknowledged the nation’s anger over the attack.

Online Backlash: Her appeal was met with vitriolic trolling on social media platforms, particularly X, where some users labeled her as insensitive or accused her of downplaying the attack’s communal nature, given that victims were reportedly targeted based on religion. The trolling escalated into sexist and hateful attacks, with some netizens attempting character assassination by questioning her motives or personal life.

False Allegations of a “Muslim Cult”: Certain X posts and online narratives falsely linked Himanshi to a supposed “Muslim cult” or conspiracy, claiming without evidence that she was involved in her husband’s death or had ties to Kashmiri Muslim groups. For instance, a post by user @ichkipichki on May 3, 2025, suggested she was a “hero for anti-India gang” and implied her peace appeal was tied to Kashmiri Muslim “overground workers.” Another post humorously mocked the idea of her being the “mastermind” of the attack, highlighting the absurdity of such claims.

Specific False Claims:

– Some posts alleged Himanshi studied at Delhi University (DU) or Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and had friendships with Kashmiri Muslims, which were used to fuel communal narratives. No credible sources confirm these claims about her education or relationships.
– Others fabricated stories about her dating Kashmiri men or being part of a conspiracy, with one post referencing a 2022 Instagram post to suggest personal friendships were suspicious. These were debunked as lacking evidence, with official investigations pointing solely to Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists.
Response from Authorities: The National Commission for Women intervened, condemning the trolling as “unacceptable” and stating that targeting a woman for her ideological expression was wrong, especially given the national grief over the attack. The NCW emphasized that while the country was “hurt and angry,” such attacks on Himanshi were unjust.

Before we crown her innocent,,, let’s demand real answers, not staged sympathy… ☠️☠️☠️☠️#Pahalgam #Accountability #HimanshiNarwal #PahalgamTerroristAttack #PahalgamTerroristAttack #HimanshiNarwal #IndiaPakistan #India #NationalSecurity #RahulGandhi #TerrorHasOnlyOneReligion… pic.twitter.com/C3pEmuIiBE

— वरदान वैभव सिन्हा 🇮🇳 (@MainVardanHoon) May 5, 2025

Expose the beeechh #HimanshiNarwal #HimanshiSwami She sacrificed her husband for the sake of the cult…
Do you think she deserves any compassion ?? #PahalgamTerroristAttack #PahalgamTerrorAttack see people she follows !! Bhen ki ❤️di pic.twitter.com/owj6agAyRc

— LonerMonkey (@lonermonkeyy) May 4, 2025