Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Bilikis Bano, the Gujarat’s gangrape survivor today said that she did not want revenge but only want justice for what had happened to her during 2002 riots.
“I want justice, not revenge. I want my daughters to grow up in a safe India,” Bilkis Bano, said while interacting with media in New Delhi today.
The gangrape survivors of the 2002 Gujarat riots, said in response to a question on whether she wanted the death penalty for those convicted in the case.
‘My faith in the constitution and in the idea of justice has been upheld and for that I am truly grateful to the honorable Judges,’ said Bilkis Bano.
Speaking about her 15 year long journey to justice, she said, ‘It had been filled with fear, constantly shifting homes, trying to protect my children, each time the accused were given parole.’ She said that it was the State’s duty to protect her and her family, and she was happy the Police had finally been convicted.
“We led a life of vagabonds all these years. We shifted at least 20-25 houses out of fear,” said Bilkis when asked about the Gujarat government’s decision to grant parole to the accused persons several times after they were convicted by the trial court in 2008.
“Each time they were out on parole, they held meetings and threatened us. We had no hope from the police, who were complicit in the crime. I am happy the high court punished the accused policemen too,” she said.
Vijay Hiremath, the counsel for Bilkis, said. “I have seen a number of cases in which survivors pull out because of many extraneous factors. Bano stood strong and took immeasurable pain despite such a long-drawn judicial process.”
He said that the high court judgment is one of the rare cases in which police officers have been convicted and the complicity of state officials have been acknowledged by the court.
He also read out portions from the judgment on Bilkis Bano case delivered on May 4 2017 by Bombay High Court.
“They tried to gag the mouth of the prosecutrix… Her evidence emerged before us like a collage which we find completely trustworthy…They investigation was not only unsatisfactory but it smacked of dishonest steps to screen the culprits. This itself is the most incriminating circumstance against the accused… The earlier investigation has played the role of villain in the case… The omissions on the part of police accused are so grave and so obvious that their malafides and intentions are very apparent… The investigation is not only faulty but it is downright tainted.”
Activists who accompanied Bilkis said that the high court order is a historic moment as it is possibly the first time that police complicity was clearly acknowledged by the judiciary. “The impunity the police enjoy in India has been questioned. And many who have frequently pointed out the role of police in aiding and abetting the perpetrators of violence in riots stand vindicated.
On May 4 2017 Bombay High Court upheld conviction of 11 persons in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and refuses CBI’s request of death penalty for the three convicted for murder. The court also set aside acquittal of six persons, including doctors and policemen, convicting them for tampering of evidence in the case.
12 persons were originally charge-sheeted, but one of them expired during the pendency of the case.
A special court in Mumbai had on January 21, 2008 convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment 11 men for gang raping Bilqis and murdering seven of her family members in the aftermath of the Godhra riots.
The 11 convicts moved the Bombay High Court against their conviction. CBI had sought death penalty for the three men convicted in the case.
17 people, including Bilqis Bano, were attacked in Devgarh Baria village of Dahod district in Gujarat on 3rd March, 2002, in the aftermath of the Godhra train carnage. Bilkis was gang-raped during the attack. The trial in the case was transferred out of Gujarat as it was feared that witnesses might be intimidated or influenced.