New Delhi: All the eleven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002 post-Godhra Bilkis Bano gang rape case and murder of her seven family members were allowed to walk freely on Monday under its remission policy.
The eleven convicts had served more than 15 years in jail.
What is Bilkis Bano gangrape case?
Following the burning of the Sabarmati Express coach which killed 59 ‘karsevaks ‘on February 27, 2002, violence had erupted, Bilkis Bano, who was five-month pregnant at that time, fled her village with her toddler daughter and 15 others.
Bilkis Bano along with her daughter and other family members had taken shelter in a field when a mob of 20-30 people with arms attacked them and Bilkis Bano was gang raped, while seven members of her family were murdered. However, six other members managed to run away from the spot.
Following the heinous crime and outrage over the incident, the Supreme Court had ordered a CBI probe.
All the accused involved in the case were arrested in 2004.
In August 2004, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Mumbai after Bilkis Bano expressed apprehensions that witnesses could be harmed and the evidence collected by the CBI tampered.
In January 21, 2008, the special CBI Court had sentenced the eleven accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family.
They were all convicted on charges of conspiring to rape a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under the Indian Penal Code.
Seven other accused were acquitted by the special court for want of evidence while one accused had died during the trial.
In April, 2019, the Supreme Court had directed the Gujarat government to pay Rs 50 lakh compensation, a job, and a house to Bilkis Bano.
Who are 11 convicts who have been released?
The 11 convicts who have been granted premature release are Rajubhai Soni, Radhesham Shah, Kesarbhai Vohania, Shailesh Bhatt, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Bakabhai Vohania, Ramesh Chandana, Pradeep Mordhiya, Jaswantbhai Nai, Mitesh Bhatt, Govindbhai Nai.
Who said what after 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano gang rape case walk free?
This is BJP’s version of AZADI KA AMRIT. People who are GUILTY of a heinous crime have been given freedom. BJP’s bias for a religion is such that even brutal rape & hate crimes are forgivable. Will BJP-Shinde Maha govt form committee to consider Rubina Memon’s remission too? 1/2 https://t.co/dtelm7WBtX
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 15, 2022
11 convicts in the #BilkisBano case of the 2002 riots walked out of jail!
If you didn’t knew, It is Gujarat Govt that approved the release under its remission policy ? @KTRTRS pic.twitter.com/37atSfSwSI
— YSR (@ysathishreddy) August 16, 2022