GODHRA, August 15, 2022 (TBNN)
All the 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2002 post-Godhra Bilkis Bano Gang Rape Case today walked out of the Godhra Sub-Jail after the Gujarat Government allowed their release under its remission policy, an official said.
A special Central Bureau of Investigation Court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.
These convicts had served more than 15 years in jail after which one of them approached the Supreme Court with a plea for his premature release. The apex court directed the Gujarat Government to look into the issue of remission of his sentence following which the government formed a committee, Panchmahals Collector Sujal Mayatra, who headed the panel, said.
A committee formed a few months back took a unanimous decision in favour of remission of all the 11 convicts in the case. The recommendation was sent to the state government and yesterday we received the orders for their release, Mayatra said.
Bilkis Bano’s family members were attacked by a mob at Randhikpur Village in Limkheda Taluka of Dahod District during the post-Godhra riots on March 3, 2002. Bilkis Bano, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed.
Six other members managed to run away, the court was told. The accused in the case were arrested in 2004.
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