Students, activists demand justice for gang-rape victim

Hundreds of students and activists took to the streets of Visakhapatnam on Thursday, condemning the gang rape of a law student from NVP Law College in Madhurawada. The protests, organized by the Progressive Democratic Students’ Organization (PDSO) and other activist groups, began at the iconic Gandhi statue in GVMC and extended to the Telugu Talli flyover and Rama Talkies.
L. Bhanu, treasurer of PDSO, expressed anguish while addressing the demonstrators. “This is a heinous and appalling act,” he said. Explaining the case, Bhanu added, “The victim was deceived by someone she trusted, only to be subjected to this unimaginable brutality. The increasing number of such crimes—from infants to elderly victims—is deeply distressing. The government must act decisively to address this societal rot.” She highlighted the role of alcohol, drugs, and obscene content as factors aggravating the crisis.
V Lakshmi, PDSO’s district secretary, brought a sobering perspective with data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). “Eighty-six women are raped every day in India, and these are just reported cases. The true scale is even more harrowing. Passing stricter laws is not enough—substance abuse and pornography, key drivers of such crimes, must be addressed at the root,” she said. Other speakers, including PDSO District President P. Vishwanath and State Committee Member S Rudri echoed the call for urgent reforms and stronger governmental action. They emphasized that preventive measures, alongside accountability for past failures, are the need of the hour. Parallel protests were also organised by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), DYFSI, and SFSI.
During a dharna, AIDWA Secretary Ramadevi criticized the government’s inaction. “The administration must act decisively, starting with a firm response to this case. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others must ensure justice, not just rhetoric,” she said.
The demonstrators demanded a white paper detailing measures undertaken to combat crimes against women.
The protests also brought attention to recent unaddressed cases, including one in Rambilli mandal. “Why are women failing again and again?” Ramadevi asked, pointing to the systemic failures and the government’s perceived apathy. DYFSI District General Secretary B. Prabhavathi accused the coalition government of failing to address the rise in harassment and rape cases during its tenure, calling its actions “hollow announcements.”
SFSI leaders and former corporator Botta, joined by female students, demanded an inquiry committee, effective measures to protect women, and justice for the Madhurawada victims.
As the protests concluded, the resounding chants of “Justice for all women!” echoed through the city. Protestors demanded not just retribution but a comprehensive approach to dismantling the systemic issues that enable such atrocities. Their message was clear: no more delays, no more excuses.