A protest meeting was organised in the capital city to express solidarity with the actress who was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving vehicle on Friday night.

The gathering, at Manaveeyam Veedhi, called for stern action against the accused and steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi said that the perpetrators who abuse and assault women should be castrated rather than being awarded the death sentence.

Getting emotional, she demanded that the film fraternity stay united until the culprits are punished and even the move to get bail for the accused should be defeated.

Producers Association president G Sureshkumar said that one more meeting will be held in Kochi on Wednesday in solidarity with the actress.

“The incident has put even the honest drivers who are acting as production managers as well in the film industry under a shadow”, he said.

V S Sivakumar, MLA, said that Kochi has become a crime city now and asked the government to take immediate measures to ensure the safety of women.

Congress leader Pandalam Sudhakaran said that the government has become inept at dealing with criminals and asked for amendments in the existing laws to prevent atrocities against women.

Actors Priyanka, Parvathy, Gopakumar, Film Producer’s Association Secretary M Ranjith , yesteryear film director Kumaran, Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangam state secretary Vinod Vaisakhi, among others, have spoken condemning the incident.

The meeting concluded with an oath on the safety of women. 

(All photographs by Sreekesh Raveendran Nair)