Several Bollywood celebrities have expressed their outrage on social media over the death of a 20-year-old woman who was gang-raped and tortured by four men in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras two weeks ago.
The woman who had suffered multiple fractures, paralysis and a deep gash in her tongue died this morning in a Delhi hospital.
Actor Akshay Kumar has called for the hanging of the rapists, adding the incident has left him "angry and frustrated".
"When will this stop? Our laws and their enforcement must be so strict that the mere thought of punishment makes rapists shudder with fear!Hang the culprits. Raise ur voice to safeguard daughters and sisters-it's the least we can do (sic)," he tweeted.
The woman, who belonged to the Scheduled Castes community, was raped on September 14 in her village in Hathras, some 200 km from Delhi. She had been in the ICU in a hospital in Uttar Pradesh until she was moved to Delhi yesterday after her condition showed no signs of improvement.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Riteish Deshmukh said the culprits of the brutal and "horrific" crime should be "hanged in public".
Swara Bhasker said the brutal gang rape was a reminder that there's no limit to monstrosity.
"We have become a sick, inhuman society. Shameful. Saddening," the actor said.
The woman, in her statement to the police, said she was dragged by her dupatta into the fields from a spot where she had been cutting grass with her mother and brother.
"Justice for Hathras victim. Everyone deserves to live with dignity. Punish the perpetrators," Richa Chadha wrote
Farhan Akhtar posted a heartbreak emoji and said it was a "sad, sad day". "How much longer can this be allowed to go on," he wrote.
Actor Yami Gautam said it was disgusting that women are subjected to endless brutality.
"Tried really hard to gather my thoughts before expressing my sorrow, anger and disgust. It''s 2020 and still so many Nirbhayas have to give their lives.
"Can't imagine the pain she must have endured and her family. Praying for severe punishment and justice," she wrote.
The savage assault has been compared by many to the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape.
The four accused, who have already been arrested, will now also be charged with murder.
Man, Arrested For Raping 7-Year-Old, Shot In Leg While Escaping Custody 13-Year-Old Girl Raped In UP, Her Father Assaulted By Accused, Aides: Cops 2 Minor Girls Raped In Different UP Villages This Month, Accused Arrested: Cops US Millionaire, Who Died By Suicide, Owed $34 Million With $8,000 In Bank Manipur Chief Minister Slams Tejashwi Yadav Over "Racist" Jab At Himanta Sarma Elderly Man Slapped, Abused On Train Over Suspicion Of Carrying Beef 1962 Indo-China War Era Smoke Bomb Found In Assam, Safely Blasted: Police UNICEF Launches Emergency Tender For Mpox Vaccines To Help Hard-Hit Nations 8 Killed After Bus Carrying 47 Overturns In US State Of Mississippi: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.