"Shocked" actor Vijay condemns the sexual assault at Anna University in Chennai and calls for "immediate action."

In a thicket, two men ambushed the second-year engineering student and then sexually abused her when she was seated with her male companion on campus.

Actor-politician Vijay has called on the Tamil Nadu government to take "swift legal action" against the accused after denouncing the sexual assault of a second-year engineering student on the Anna University campus in Chennai.

The incident was described as "deeply shocking and painful" by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party chairman on Wednesday.

Early on Wednesday morning, the survivor and her male companion were attacked by two males on campus. The culprits attacked and beat the male buddy while the woman and her friend were seated in an open place on campus. The survivor was then sexually raped after being carried into the bushes.

Both the survivor and her companion attend the university.

In an X post, Vijay requested the MK Stalin-led administration to "take swift legal action against him and ensure that he is punished accordingly" despite the fact that police had notified him of the arrest in the case.

Interestingly, the 37-year-old defendant operated a biryani stand close to the university.

"Furthermore, if anyone else was involved in this heinous crime, appropriate action should also be taken against them promptly," he stated.

The actor went on to say that in order to protect women in the city, CCTV cameras, smart poles, emergency buttons, telephones, etc., must be installed. He suggested using the Nirbhaya fund, which is given out annually, for this.

"...Ensure women's safety in all city buses, provide women's toilet facilities in public places, provide emergency telephones and mobile apps for women's safety, and ensure the safety of women in all places including educational institutions, private institutions, and public places," the Tamil version of his post read.

Furthermore, he stated that simply putting these amenities in place would not be sufficient. According to Vijay, it is also crucial to keep an eye on them to make sure they are operating correctly.

"Adequate safety measures should be implemented while accomplishing this without sacrificing anything. In order for women to defend themselves with mental fortitude in any circumstance, he added, "it is also essential to establish sufficient legal aid and psychological awareness."

Additionally, Vijay asked the government to "raise awareness of this issue among women during their educational period."

protest over a 19-year-old student's sexual assault
In Tamil Nadu, the 19-year-old student's sexual assault has provoked intense anger and political turmoil.

There have been protests by students in and around the campus, which has raised concerns about their safety.

State BJP head K Annamalai further claimed that the accused is "a repeat offender and a DMK functionary" and expressed outrage over the occurrence.

Annamalai questioned whether Chief Minister MK Stalin would "ever take any responsibility" and blasted the state government.

The "Shame On You Stalin" hashtag was also observed to be used more frequently on social media sites, particularly on X, formerly Twitter, amid the mounting indignation.