11 rapists' mass release shocked global society: Bilkis Bano tells SC
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New Delhi: Moving the Supreme Court, 2002 Gujarat riots gang-rape victim Bilkis Bano submitted before it that the release of the 11 rapists came as a shock to her grownup daughters, family and the global society as a whole.
"The premature release of all the convicts came as a shock not only to the petitioner, to her grownup daughters and to her family, but also to the society at large, nationally and internationally, and the society across segments has expressed its anger, disappointment, distrust and protest to the clemency shown by the government by releasing criminals like the 11 convicts in the case," Bano submitted through her petition.
The petition noted that the "mechanical" order of en masse release has stirred up several agitations across the country. Those released, including the writ petitioner, were honoured and photographed in full public view, she said.
The petition said that Bano was extremely hurt, disturbed and full of dejection by the Gujarat government's move as the convicts brutally gang-raped her when she was five months pregnant.
She said that despite approaching the state (Gujarat) government requesting the papers/entire file relating to the premature release of all the convicts, no response was given to her. CBI, as well as the special CBI court in Mumbai, had declined the premature release, she added.
Further, Bano filed a separate plea seeking a review of the May 13, 2022, decision of the Supreme Court, allowing the Gujarat government to take a decision on August 10 on remission of the sentence of the convicts.
Several petitions were filed in the top court challenging the release of the 11 convicts. Gujarat had told the SC that the release was made since the convicts served 14 years in jail, and their behaviour was good.