She Welcomed Maa Durga, Only to Be Met by a Torrent of Hate: Kolkata Actress Sohini Guha Roy Files Complaint Against Cross-Border Hate Campaign, Hindu Voice Identifies 9,000 Abusive Comments, Including Attacks on Hinduism, Devi Durga and Sohini’s Dignity

Bengali actress Sohini Guha Roy shared a photograph on her official Facebook page, standing before the idol of Goddess Durga on 12th October. Her caption was simple: “Mother has arrived”, a familiar expression of devotion and anticipation in Bengal, where Durga Puja is a religious festival and an inseparable part of the region’s cultural identity.

What followed was a disturbing demonstration of how social media can be weaponised against a woman for expressing her faith.

According to Hindu Voice’s analysis of the post, which attracted more than 34,500 comments, at least 9,000 targeted Hinduism, Goddess Durga, Durga Puja, or the character, dignity and modesty of the actress. The comments included vulgar sexual insinuations, personal degradation and attacks on Hindu religious sentiments.

Hindu Voice reports that more than 99 per cent of the comments in these categories originated from Muslim users in Bangladesh. More than 70 per cent were attributed to Generation Z college students, young employees and high-school students.

The participation was not confined to anonymous accounts. Hindu Voice identified individuals associated with Islamist pressure groups, mainstream political parties, multinational organisations and government institutions. Among the people posting vulgar and obscene comments were :

1. Muhammad Mohin Uddin Sopon, associated with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
2. Shabmim Aftina, identified as an employee of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
3. Mohammad Sohan, associated with the International American Academy
4. Sagor Ahmed Sisir, who claimed to have worked at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and
5. Muhammad Iqbal Hossain, who claimes to have worked at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.

Disturbingly, thousands of Bangladeshi women posted comments targeting Hinduism, Maa Durga and Sohini’s character. Disturbingly, thousands of Bangladeshi women posted comments targeting Hinduism, Maa Durga and Sohini’s character just to mock her devotion and faith.

Accountability Cannot Stop at the Border

In her complaint to the Cyber Cell unit of Kolkata Police, Sohini Guha Roy has sought assistance in identifying those responsible and pursuing appropriate legal action on 14th October. She has cited screenshots, profile details and links to accounts she believes were involved.

The geographical dimension complicates enforcement, but it does not erase responsibility. Where evidence establishes offences within the jurisdiction of Indian law, authorities should pursue lawful investigative and international cooperation mechanisms. Platforms must preserve relevant records and respond promptly to valid legal requests. Individuals verified to be have been involved in the targeted campaign of hate must be permanently blacklisted.

Meta, meanwhile, cannot treat the problem as an inevitable by-product of online engagement. Its moderation systems must detect and act consistently against religious hatred, misogynistic abuse and sexualised harassment, including attacks directed at Hindus and Hinduism. Transparent enforcement data, Bengali-language moderation expertise and effective reporting mechanisms are essential.

Sohini Guha Roy’s complaint demands a serious response. A photograph before Maa Durga should never become an invitation to humiliation. Nor should the border between Bangladesh and India become a shield against evidence-based accountability.