Release of rape and murder convicts in Gujarat is Shocking

New Delhi, 16th August 2022: The release of all the eleven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2002 Gujarat Bilkis Bano gang rape and murder of seven members of her family, is shocking and absolute injustice. Elyas Thumbe, National General Secretary of Social Democratic Party of India said, all the convicted criminals walked out of Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy.

On March 3, a mob of 20-30 people armed with sickles, swords and sticks attacked Bilkis Bano and her toddler daughter and other 15 family members. Seven members of her family were killed and Bilkis Bano who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang raped. Though the trial began in Ahmedabad, but later apprehension of tampering of witnesses and evidences,the case was transferred to Mumbai. The CBI court sentenced the eleven of accused to life imprisonment in 2008 and the Bombay High Court uphold the conviction in 2018.

However, responding to the plea by one of the accused, the Gujarat government has now reduced the sentence and released all the eleven life imprisonment convicts who came out of from the jail yesterday. Elyas Thumbe said, this action of the Gujarat Government is a shame to entire woman folk and also an extreme injustice to the society that the rapists and killers of 7 people have come out of jail and will roam free. This move of Gujarat government sends a vindictive signal to the society and creates an atmosphere of insecurity and shame.