Bollywood reacts sharply to brutal rape of 8-year-old in J&K

Bollywood celebrities have raised their voice in support of the little Bakherwal girl allegedly raped by six men in Jammu and Kashmir and demanded swift justice. They expressed shock over what the young girl had to go through and the politicisation of the case by various political parties.

The girl was held captive in a small village temple in Rassana village of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir for a week in January, 2018, the culprits kept her sedated and sexually assaulted her before she was bludgeoned to death.

"Imagine what goes through the mind of an 8 yr old as she is drugged, held captive, gang-raped over days and then murdered. If you don't feel her terror, you are not human. If you don't demand (the victim) get justice, you belong to nothing," actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar said.

Tennis star Sania Mirza tweeted, "Is this really the kind of country we want to be known as to the world today ?? If we can't stand up now for this 8-year-old girl regardless of our gender, caste, colour or religion then we don't stand for anything in this world.. not even humanity.. makes me sick to the stomach."

"A child deserves only love irrespective of caste, colour, religion. And a rapist deserves only punishment irrespective of caste, colour, religion," said Ayushmann Khurrana.

"Ashamed appalled and disgusted by fake nationals and fake Hindus. I cannot believe this is happening in my country," said actress Sonam Kapoor.

"When you say you are Hindu and a nationalist are you trying to say that you are an intolerant hate-monger and rapist? If the answer is no then condemn those who have raped (the victim). Show your nationalism by protesting against those who use religion as a pretext to justify crime," tweeted Hansal Mehta.

"One cannot play politics over (Kathua). She was an innocent 8-year-old, way off from the colour of ur politics. It was our duty to protect her & we failed, but we must not fail in giving her justice. Don't compromise on humanity because u are too cowardly to compromise ur politics," said filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir.

"There is no species ever created on this planet that is as cruel, as monstrous and as evil as the rapists of Kathua victim. And there is no punishment commensurate to their crime. An innocent 8-year-old girl? I can only ask 'Where is God?'..," said actress Simi Garewal.

"Humanity has it an all-time low .... only one path to redemption," added Neha Dhupia. "My heart is broken and I am filled with anger and disgust. she has suffered and gone at the hands of criminals who have also evidently murdered our collective conscience! #Kathua #Unnao," added actress, presenter and activist Dia Mirza.

"The religion of the victim and the religion of the rapist should never matter! It is of no consequence! Rape is a crime against humanity!!! Appalled that some people can actually support rapists! Shocked beyond belief!," said Renuka Shahane.