a few minutes late on On Monday evening, Bilkes Banu couldn’t believe that the eleven convicts had been released – she first She burst into tears, then fell silent husband Jacob Rasool told The Indian Express.
A day later, when I called him Indian ExpressBilqis said: Leave me alone… I was called Duaa. for Spirit of Mine daughter Valid “.
“We were left Rasul said after Gujarat panel grant forgiveness of 11 defendants were sentenced who They were imprisoned for life in 2008 for Gangraping Bilqis and killing 14 of to her family Members, including the three-year-Old daughterduring the riots of 2002.
“The battle we fought for I have been winding many years up in one Moment. Sentence of Court life sentence reduced in This way… we haven’t even heard of it before of The word forgiveness. We didn’t know “Such a process exists,” Rasoul told the Indian Express. over phone from home in Devgadh Baria in Dahoud.
After the convicts were welcomed, with Wreaths and sweets After their release, Rasoul said that Balqis, 41, was “sad and sad,” unable to speak to anyone.
We didn’t have enough time to deal with this. news and we know that they have (convicted) already I reached them homes… It’s not that they never did that took Parole they did several times. But we didn’t expect to release them in So he said.
“what happened (in 2002) was so awful one Can you imagine what must have been on her mind… She was brutally exposed but she watched murder of hers daughter… not violated just as a woman but also K mother And a human being – what could be worse? Rasul said.
“Now we are just want to be left alone, settled down down for our five children. We are afraid for our safety But we did not have time to think about next move,” He said.
Sujal Maitra, court judge and collector of panchmahal, who He chaired the Prison Advisory Committee (JAC) that recommended forgiveness, telling The Indian Express that “it was unanimous decision”.
“The convicts had completed over 14 years of They rule for life. Their order came about three months ago… I like it in the case of any app for Remission or early release, this was the case also It is considered on the basics of the behavior of convicts in prison As well as the tenure of the position and other benefits of the case. The recommendation has been sent to the country governmentAnd yesterday (Monday), we received orders for Maitra said.
By standards, the JAC has eight members including a district judge (or capital city chief justice) as chair, jail admin, member secretaryDistrict Hearings Judge, Superintendent of the police (or the city commissioner), the district welfare officer, and two local residents (elected) Individuals.
In this case, the elected The members are Godhra BJP MLA CK Raulji and Kalol BJP MLA Suman Chauhan. Both weren’t available for comment Tuesday.
another member of the committee, who did not wish To be identified, said remission apps also He was martyred for medical reasons. “the biggest of The convicts were 70 years old and had health problems. Another convict is nearly 60 years old of age, was also Cite medical cases as well as a medical emergency in home Because his wife is fighting a critical member said.
Gujarat (home) chief trustee Raj Kumar told the Indian Express that a total of 26 prisoners have been released across the state on Monday.
Bilqis and 14 members were killed of to her familyincluding valid, at the hands of a mob on March 3, 2002, in Limkhida Taluka of Dahoud neighborhood – the corpses of six It was never found. The Supreme Court had ordered an investigation by the CBI in The case after Bilqis submitted to the National Human Rights Committee.
In 2004, the Supreme Court ordered the trial to be moved from Gujarat to Maharashtra after Bilkis alleged death Threats from the accused. And the on Jan 21, 2008, CBI special court in Mumbai convicted 13 defendants, and sentenced 11 to life imprisonment on shipment of gangrape and murder. Three years later, the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled compensation of 50 lakh rupees to Blix, Gujarat asked government to supply her with a government Work and housing.
According to the messenger of the state government got compensation Bilqis offered post of fawn in Devgadh Baria but she turned down Offer and work required for to her husband instead. “The government Have not yet looked at the application. we also We have not yet heard from the administration about the accommodation.”
the news | Click to get today best commentators in your inbox
According to the messenger, the compensation amount of 50 lakh rupees have been set in a fixed Deposit and will be used for The higher education of they children. “Our oldest daughter She is 19 years old and pursuing her Bachelor’s degree. Bilqis wanted her to be a lawyer and help else people Search justice But due to Covid we couldn’t record it in Faculty of Law as it is outside Devgad Baria. We have decided that she will graduate in Trade and pursue LLB,” he said.
The second daughteraged 16 also Enrolling in college while they are 15-year-Old son is class 10 student in a private The school.
In Lok Sabha . Polls of In 2019, Bilqis stepped up out for The first It’s time to cast her vote. “It had begun live her life again Because justice It reduced our pain but this (calm) came in the form of a thunderbolt out of the blue… We are exhausted,” Rasul said.
