Indian Gamer Threatens Sexual Assault In YouTube Video, With Nirbhaya Rape Reference
Manoj Kashyap threatened sexual assault to his viewers with an uncalled for reference to the Nirbhaya rape case during a livestream on his YouTube channel. The streamer who goes by the screen name TM Sentinel referred to the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder as a threat to how he would retaliate against those who bring up the recent Valorant cheating controversy. Riot Games investigating the matter Riot Games the developer and publisher of the free...Read More
Indian esports streamer and owner of Team Mahi (earlier known as Velocity Gaming), Manoj Kashyap threatened sexual assault to his viewers, with an uncalled for reference to the Nirbhaya rape case, during a livestream on his YouTube channel, as reported by IGN India.
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The streamer, who goes by the screen name 'TM Sentinel', referred to the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder as a threat to how he would retaliate against those who bring up the recent Valorant cheating controversy--the February incident when Valorant pro player Abhay ¡®Xhade¡¯ Urkude of team Paratroops was banned by Riot Games for admittedly using wallhacks.
Warning: profanity!
@TOIHyderabad @CorsairIndia @TelanganaCOPs @TelanganaDGP @TelanganaCMO @BJP4Telangana @INCTelangana
¡ª Hitesh (@hitty_26) April 5, 2021
This guy "Manoj Kasyap aka TM Sentinel IG-tm.sentinal, made comment on Nirbhaya Rape Refrence on Live Stream @YouTubeIndia , article published in comment.
He should be jailed asap pic.twitter.com/9hTpbY2T7b
Kashyap, who is the owner of the Valorant esports organization, has since offered an apology in a three-minute YouTube video where he explains that he ¡®lost control¡¯ and ¡®his emotions got the better of him¡±.
Riot Games investigating the matter
Riot Games, the developer and publisher of the free-to-play 5v5 hero shooter, told Indiatimes that it¡¯s currently investigating the incident and will arrive at a decision in the next couple of weeks.
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¡°We at Riot Games, have a zero tolerance policy against gender discrimination and abuse. We try our best to ensure the best possible player experience and we are aware of incidents that happen within our communities,¡± the company said in a statement.
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¡°Meanwhile, we would like to assure our players in India that our team is constantly working on enhancing the ways we protect our players and the integrity of our games. We have lots of respect for our fanbase here who help us keep the game safe and open to all,¡± the publisher added.
Indian esports professional reacts
Ace gamer Ankit 'V3nom' Panth, the captain of Team Brutality -- one of India¡¯s oldest and most popular esports team -- told Indiatimes that he¡¯s disheartened to see people ¡°still casually referring to the Nirbhaya case to show their anger in petty issues¡±.
Ankit V3NOM Panth
¡°Being an Indian gamer it hurts me the most seeing people just casually referring to that inhuman incident. We have no right to do that, doesn¡¯t matter how irritated we are,¡± he said in a statement.
¡°That incident shamed our entire nation and it disheartens me seeing that people still use that reference for their own sake. Please think about the family who went through all that pain. You talking about it is only making them relive it. Please be sensible and think twice before talking. We have to build a mature gaming ecosystem which influences people in the right way,¡± he added.
Online gender-based violence
With the Covid-19 taking much of our life online and triggering a boom in online gaming, the harassment in these and other digital spaces has gone up. One in every other young women and girls surveyed have experienced online abuse, including threatening messages, sexual harassment and the sharing of private images without consent.
Qualcomm
Previous studies have suggested that the anonymity of the online gaming space as well the competitive nature increases the likelihood of toxic behaviour. Survey data from the American Defamation League suggests that at least 37 per cent of female gamers have faced gender-based harassment.
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Ignoring toxicity or brushing it off allows it to persist; pushing back often results in further harassment. The situation is such that female players often play only with friends or avoid voice chat altogether.
Shagufta Iqbal
The stakes are high. Still kicking into gear, India¡¯s esports segment is pegged to grow 36 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the next three years, an Inc42 report notes. And women constitute 43 per cent of the mobile gaming audience in India, three in four of which play a mobile game at least once a day.
Therefore, it¡¯s imperative to create an enabling environment for every gamer and follower of India's gaming zeitgeist -- least of all women. The video game publishers should also develop clear community guidelines, introduce a more stringent report system and respond to such issues in a swift and decisive manner.