‘Give back the right to live without fear’: Bilkis Bano against the release of her rapists

Bilkis Bano expressed dismay at the Gujarat government’s release of gang-rape accused during the Gujarat riots. Bilkis Bano said in a statement that the decision had shaken her faith in the justice system. Gujarat government should withdraw the decision. She has the right to live without fear. The government’s decision is to eliminate it. Bilkis Bano said that she feels worried when she remembers the women who are fighting for the law like her.

The government released 11 accused who were sentenced to life imprisonment on Independence Day. Concession was granted on completion of 15 years of imprisonment. The accused were found guilty in the case of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and killing 7 family members including her 3-year-old daughter in front of Bano’s eyes.

The Bilkis Bano gang-rape case is a notorious incident in the Gujarat riots. In 2008, the Mumbai CBI court sentenced 11 accused in the case to life imprisonment and sent them to jail. One of the accused had approached the Supreme Court after completing 15 years in jail and seeking his release. The Supreme Court directed the Gujarat government to take a decision in this regard. Then the state government decided to release all the 11 criminals.

The Gujarat government appointed a committee chaired by Panchmahal Collector Sujal Mayatra to submit a report on the matter following the Supreme Court directive. The committee had directed the government to release all of them as they had completed their 15-year sentence in the case. With this, 11 people were released from Godhra Sub Jail on Monday.

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