An Indian-American girl has sent a video message to prime minister Narendra Modi expressing her disgust at the rape and murder of eight-year-old Asifa.
In the video uploaded on Twitter, the girl who describes herself as a "Tamil Indian by heart" says she does not want to visit India ever again due to the increase in atrocities committed against children and women.
The girl starts the video saying she has visited India as a baby and despite the heavy traffic she loved the people and food. “Now, I’m hearing news and reading through Facebook that woman and children in India are raped and murdered every other day,” she said and gives the example of the brutal rape and murder of Asifa in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The girl then proceeded to urge the Prime Minister Modi to take strong action against people who commit such violence. “Prime Minister we have to make sure that this stuff stops and India is now safe for woman and children,” said the girl identified as Ms. V. She added that she does not want to visit India ever again as she is worried for her safety.
10 years old Indian American girl Ms V sends video msg to PM Modi that she will skip summer vacation to India this year because she's scared now after hearing about brutal gangrape of #Asifa, please Modi ji bring back our India's lost glory!!! pic.twitter.com/h6sNCCllEr
The recent rape and murder of Asifa has stirred wide-spread protest across India, with several groups urging the BJP-led government to enforce strict measures to protect women and children.
Asifa was brutally gang raped by eight men in a temple in Kathua. They held her captive for about four days and raped her repeatedly. She was strangulated and her head was hit twice with a stone to ensure she was dead.
The seven men and a minor accused of involvement in the gang rape and murder of Asifa on Monday appeared in a local court where they denied any wrongdoing.
The main accused, Sanji Ram, who was the custodian of the Hindu temple where Asifa was held captive, said the charges were a conspiracy against him. Pleading not guilty, the men has asked for a Narcoanalysis test, wherein the suspect is injected with sodium pentothal in an attempt to elicit a confession.
THOUSANDS have signed a petition to save Peterborough's Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir from closure. The nearly 40-year-old community hub in eastern England now faces an uncertain future as the property enters the open market.
It opposes the council's decision to put the site on the open market. Instead, it seeks to accept the local authority's earlier offer of £800,000 in recognition of its "social value" to the region.
The e-petition, which runs until March 2026, describes the mandir as more than a place of worship. "It is a cornerstone of Peterborough's community life, serving nearly 13,500 Hindus and countless others of all backgrounds. To lose it would be to lose one of the city's greatest assets," it said.
Beyond religious ceremonies, the temple hosts a range of community activities: Eastern European Christmas gatherings, school visits, after-school sports clubs, cultural education programmes and charitable work. It operates health and wellbeing initiatives, alongside a soup kitchen for vulnerable residents.
"The Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir is a centre of positive energy—a community hub that brings people together across faiths, cultures and generations," the petition added. "It delivers vital community, cultural and charitable services that no other organisation provides at this scale. Losing it would not only harm the Hindu community but also weaken the wider city's social fabric."
The council has defended its approach, arguing that marketing the complex on the open market ensures the best possible value for taxpayers. Councillor Mohammed Jamil, cabinet member for finance and corporate governance, acknowledged the concerns whilst maintaining the council's position.
"We understand that this must be a worrying time for the Hindu community. However, we have to put all community assets identified for sale on the open market to ensure we achieve the best possible value for taxpayers," he said.
The preferred bidder will assume the property with all existing tenancies intact. According to the council, bidders have been asked to outline how they would work with current occupants. A final decision on the bids is expected at a council cabinet meeting in 2026.
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