Online Harassment of Women in Tripura: A Study on Legal Awareness and Reporting Challenges under the BNS and IT Act

The increasing use of digital platforms has led to concerns about online safety, especially for women who often face issues like cyberstalking, trolling, and the sharing of content without their consent. This study, “Online Harassment of Women in Tripura: A Study on Legal Awareness and Reporting Challenges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Information Technology Act (IT Act)”, examines the prevalence of online harassment and women’s awareness of legal protections.Using an empirical approach, data were collected from 67 respondents in Tripura. The findings show that while 90.8% of the respondents were aware that online harassment is a punishable offence, only 23.3% actually reported such incidents. The main reasons for not reporting include social stigma, lack of awareness about how to report, and a belief that the police may not take action. This highlights a gap between legal awareness and its actual enforcement.The study suggests the need for legal reforms, the establishment of victim-friendly cyber cells, gender-sensitive policing, and improved digital literacy to create safer online spaces.