Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: Popular Instagram influencer Reshma Sebastian has issued a public clarification after being mistakenly identified as Smriti Singh, the widow of Captain Anshuman Singh. Captain Singh was recently awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously, India’s second-highest gallantry award, by President Droupadi Murmu for his bravery during a fire incident in Siachen.
The confusion arose as several internet users noted similarities in the facial features and hairstyle of Ms. Sebastian and Ms. Singh. Reshma Sebastian, who resides in Germany and is a mother to a four-year-old girl, faced harassment on social media due to this misidentification.
Ms. Sebastian addressed the issue on her Instagram story, sharing a screenshot of a man mocking the Army officer’s wife in a Facebook post that included her picture. She wrote, “This is absurd! Using my identity to spread false information about Smriti Singh. We are going ahead with legal actions.” With over three lakh followers, she urged her audience to report any similar incidents.
In a separate post on her Instagram feed, Ms. Sebastian reiterated her stance, captioning it, “There is a limit.” She clarified, “This is not Smriti Singh’s (widow of Indian Army soldier Capt Anshuman Singh) page/IG account. Read the profile details and bio first. Please refrain from spreading false information and hate comments.”
The incident leading to Captain Anshuman Singh’s posthumous award occurred in July last year when a short circuit caused a fire at an Indian Army ammunition dump in Siachen. Captain Singh heroically helped rescue individuals trapped inside a fiberglass hut near the dump. Tragically, he suffered severe burns while attempting to retrieve life-saving medicine from a nearby medical investigation shelter and succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Captain Singh and Smriti Singh were married in February last year after he graduated from the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune. His posting in Siachen under Operation Meghdoot was his first assignment.
