Pollachi rape scandal: Celebs raises voice for victims

The Asian Age.  | Anupama Subramanian

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The case, which triggered widespread outrage, has been transferred to the CB-CID now.

Kamal Haasan during his visit to the DGP’s office.

The Pollachi sex scam gained wide attention thanks to social media posts. The actor-politician Kamal Haasan, president of the MNM party, took up the cause of the victims by exposing the fact that more than 60 women from Pollachi and Coimbatore may have been sexually assaulted, blackmailed and harassed by a group of men. The case, which triggered widespread outrage, has been transferred to the CB-CID now.

The men had been befriending girls through social media to get closer to them and then lured them to meetings where they would sexually abuse them while shooting the events on video. The gang was extorting money from victims threatening the outing of the explicit videos.

Kamal Haasan visited the DGP office on Tuesday to express anxiety over the Pollachi sex scam. Many other Kollywood celebrities raised their voices in support of the victims and demanded immediate and severe action against the culprits who were involved in heinous crimes. They also raised questions about the safety of women in the State.

A heart wrenching video in which a girl cries appealing to her ‘brothers’ to spare her has set off empathy for the victims like none other. The video has been quted to show the severity of the crimes committed by the four men arrested for the crimes.

The National Commission for Women on Wednesday asked the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police to initiate action against the men accused in the alleged sexual harassment of a woman in Coimbatore district. The police has so far arrested four men in the case.

Siddharth, Aishwarya Rajesh, Kathir, GV Prakash, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Suza Kumar and Chimnayi were among those who took to their social media handle to condemn and express their angst towards those who have been arrested in the case.

TWEETS

Aishwarya Rajesh who has posted a report which appeared on a vernacular newspaper which alleged the involvement of those in power wrote,  “#ArrestPollachiRapists so. Shud v still keep. Quite or. who is. Answerable now ... ???

 “The Pollachi Gang Rape Group is politically connected. They have been making ‘friends’ with women or posing as some ‘travel group’ to gang rape girls. They have also shot videos of it. One of the victim’s brother was beaten up by the same rapist circle.#PollachiGangRape”

Kathir- “No mercy!! No Support!! for the animals in the human form.. Listening to the voice of the girl has broken the heart. Punishment should create a change for the heartless humans #PollachiSexualAbuse.”

Daniel Annie Pope - No mercy!! No Support!! for the animals in the human form.. Listening to the voice of the girl has broken the heart. Punishment should create a change for the heartless humans #PollachiSexualAbuse#ArrestpollachiRapists

Chinmayi Sripaada — After reading through the blood curdling Pollachi rape episode — It is not in the least surprising why many didn’t take a stand. “Women empowerment” Women’s Safety are all-good for speeches. But who is walking the talk please? Let me know :)

Gayathri Raghuram – “Rape is not politics. This is a sensitive issue and something to do with gender horror. Do not use this issue as political campaign. It’s an individual crime. Punish the individual with high penalty. And those who support the crime. Rape happens when any men with ill psychotic brain”.

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar who advocates women empowerment through her Save Sakthi initiative has strongly urged the death penalty as the punishment for rape.  “Are u kidding me..?! Time n time again the same bloody crime..N we celebrate women’s day..!! this is what women mean to this society..#pollachirapistsyou should be skinned to death.!! Is this the kind of world we live in.!?? #DeathPenaltyforrapeit’s the only way..!!#disgusted”

GV Prakash Kumar has posted the pictures of the four reported accused and said, “I strongly condemn these monsters.” He even said that it is dangerous to let such people walk amongst us in the society.

Satish – #ArrestPollachiRapists. He wrote that these culprits should be sternly punished. God and law should do their duty on these men.

CS Amudhan - That voice just keeps echoing in the ear. You sometimes think evil is just a concept & men are creatures of circumstance & then something like this happens. #ArrestPollachiRapists

Suza Kumar - y should be killed by the gud men out there who knows to treat women with respect ! How much she suffered and begged calling them as brother. disgusting inhuman#ArrestPollachiRapists#PollachiSexualAbuse

Siddharth wrote, “Shocked by the #PollachiSexualAbusecase. Hope there is systemic support given so that survivors can come forward and strengthen the case against the criminals who did this. Preying on girls using social media is a growing menace and we must safeguard against it.”

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