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"I and my family members are still living in fear. It is the duty of the Gujarat government to assure us of safety," Bilkis said in a press conference in Delhi on Monday.
Twelve persons were convicted by a special court in Mumbai on Friday in the gang-rape case. One policeman was also convicted for lodging false FIR. Seven other accused were acquitted by the court. The quantum of sentence is to be pronounced on Monday.
Although she felt that justice was delivered in the case, she was also convinced that seven persons acquitted should also have been punished.
Those doctors and policemen who connived with the rioters should not go scott-free, she said.
"This judgement does not mean the end of hatred but it does mean that somewhere, somehow justice can prevail. I am ready to work closely with CBI in other cases too," she added.
"We would wish the Gujarat government to take up the appeal to a higher court to ensure the seven officers are also punished," Indira Jaisingh, lawyer and human rights activist, said.
Bilkis also expressed her "resolve to fight the case till complete justice is delivered".
In a reply to a query, Bilkis said the frequent flip-flop of Zahira Sheikh had "hurt the fight of innocent victims of Gujarat riots and has brought a bad name to the community." Bilkis, who was six-month pregnant, was gang-raped during the communal violence that erupted in Gujarat after a coach of Sabarmati Express carrying Ramsevaks from Ayodhya was set on fire on February 27, 2002.
Bilkis was also a prime witness to the murder and rape of members of her family and community during the riots.
The trial was shifted from a court in Ahmedabad to Mumbai in August 2003 by the Supreme Court after the Central Bureau of Investigation and Bilkis expressed apprehensions that witnesses in the case could be harmed if the trial was conducted in Gujarat.
The accused allegedly attacked 17 members of the minority community in their village, which resulted in the death of eight while six were reported missing. Bilkis was one among three who survived.
Six police officers were charged with shielding the guilty while two doctors were accused of fabricating evidence.
11 get lifer
Eleven persons were sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court in Delhi on Monday for their involvement in the Bilkis Bano gangrape-cum-murder case which took place during the communal violence in Gujarat in 2002.
The twelfth convict in the case, Somabhai Gori, a police official who was found guilty by the court for shielding the offenders, has been sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment.
Twelve persons, including the police official, were convicted by the court on January 18. Seven were acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence, while one died during the course of the trial.
The accused sentenced to life imprisonment by the court are: Jaswantibhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhyesham Shah, Bipin Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajanbhai Soni, Nitesh Bhatt, Ramesh Chandana.
Bilkis was among a group of 17 persons travelling from Chaparwad to Panivela on March 3, 2002 when they were attacked. Eight persons were killed and six went missing after the incident.
Bilkis, who was six months pregnant, was gangraped. She and two children were the only survivors of the attack.
The trial was transferred from Ahmedabad to Mumbai in August 2004 by the Supreme Court as the CBI and Bilkis had expressed fears that witnesses could be intimidated or harmed.
The eleven persons were convicted under IPC sections 120 (b) (conspiracy), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 376 (2) (e)(g) (rape on pregnant woman and gangrape) and 302 (murder).
One of the members of this group, Naresh Mordhiya, died during the course of the trial.
Police official, Gori, was found guilty by the court under sections 217 and 218 of IPC for attempting to shield the offenders.
While convicting the eleven accused, the court had considered the statements of Bilkis and one of the child witnesses, who was eight-years-old at the time of the incident.
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RatingGujrat again is leading by example. Getting judgement in 6 years is really incredible in Indian context. Though the case was heard in mumbai but support from the concerned state government was phenomenal, else this case also would have seen same fate like other high profile cases. As the things are moving, perhaps the gap between Gujrat and other states will soon be unbridgable (like China and India). Meantime, people of India will wait for some final judgement in cases like Afzal Guru (7 years), Fodder Scam (17 years), Taj Mahal scandal (7 years), Nitish Katara murder (8 years), Anti Sikh Riot (23 years) and the list goes on. Hope media will also highlight those pending cases. I am also sure that Bilkis Bano after her press conference will go to Gujrat very comfortably and will spend her days in peace and prosperity there. Because saying IT YT kya hai one thing and getting your daughter married to IT person is another thing. In common parlance its called HYPOCRICY, i hope Bilkis Bano is not another Pseudo Secular.
every such case is equally important and need justice....why special treatment for some? If justice not guaranteed in Gujarat as per SC, then I feel justice also not guaranteed for Tytlor and Bofors cases and need to move them overseas.CBI colluding with Congress is not to be ruled-out.
It is good to read the views of so many sensible people on this subject, One thing must be made clear in all our minds that we can achieve progress only by staying united and living in harmony and respecting other religions. For those who have concern about justice to Godhra train victims, Its still not clear who actually have committed that crime inspite of full investigation by the Gujrat Government lead by Narendra Modi. The difference here is Modi with all the innocent people's blood in his hand is elected as Chief Minister where as those supposedly committed godhra carniage are considered to be "TERROSIST".
It was good that culprits are punished,but nobody talk about more than 60 people burnt live in Godhra,because of which all these thing happened
dear suraj.itz not going to cum out who was behind the gudhra exp.but its sure muslims were not involved.its possible its done by a gang.they dont hav any religion.it can b hindu mus sikh r crust r any other religion.they paid for it there religion is money.who pays them people r well aware of it specially gujrat hindus.they hav killed muslims there.that is y they gave thete vote to modi.they r all involved in gudhra killings.they r trying to defend themselfs to gave there vote to modi.india is big and democratic country.u will c same people will stand opp to modi to give him capital punishment.
nice they must be convicted .........
I sympathise with Bilkis Bano. What was done to her was wrong and culprits have been punished.Nowever what Bilkis Banu is saying now is what Politically motivated NGO's are asking her to say. They want to heep communal frenzy to live on and erupt now and then.
http://specials.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/21slid3.htm
Communal fights should stop immediately. Its Government's duty to provide security and maintain harmony in the state. I don't understand one thing "we are all same people, religion could be different". What difference does it make if you are Hindu or Muslim. We are not Hindu or Muslim of our choice. We are Hindu or Muslim because we are born in that family. So people lets grow up and put the religion behind. Religion was created to show good path. Lets live and let others live. Lets live as big community where we can call each other our brothers, sisters or friends. India is a great nation and lets set a example by living in harmony. All five religions are like five fingers and lets put the five fingers together and we can concur the world. God only says one thing – live in piece and help each other. Bilkis Bano you are a very brave person and I pray to God that you get justice and have a safe life.
I sympathize with Ms. Bano. Having said that, if she has been secure until now in Gujarat then there is no reason she won't stay secure in the future. There is "no remedy" for fear. There is always Uttar Pradesh that she can go to. There is a sizeable muslim population there, maybe she will be more secure there. Otherwise I would request Chief Minister Modi to basically make a blanket statement that she is under state protection and move her to a hindu majority area where the hindus will protect her.
sympathize with the half a million kashmiri pandits ethnically cleansed in Kashmir...sympathize with the millions of non-muslims demolished by these demons wherever they are in majority....keep up the good work Mr. Modi
modi should be arrested and tried at the Hague for committing the genocide.
why dontMullahs go to the country that was created for them....uAss..what about the half a million Kashmiri pandits who were ethnically cleansed..what about the atrocities commited by all 'islamic' nations on hapless minorities...first talk about them before u bad mouth Mr. Modi
"raj" if that is your true name... shut your pie hole.
Doesn’t matter you are Muslim, Christian or Hindu, if any leader planed a GenocideHe wont slip through hands of justice
raju baby ...go to mullah country (even in India like Kashmir or Bangladesh border for example) and u will see how the justice protects u from getting ur @@balls pulled out from under u...u bigAss or fool i should say rather...keep ur sentimentality at home ...this is teh future of a liberal india we are talking about here...an india already torn apart in afghanistan, paki and bangladesh by these @@rascalMullahs...
Victory for justice. Harshest possible punishment should be given to those who can rape a pregnant lady. No God will pardon these beasts wrapped in human form.
get out of India uAss...Mr. Modi still has to render justice for half a million Kashmiri Pandist ethnically cleansed by your MullahBrethren...get out of India please...there are plenty of jehadi jobs for ur lot in paki - the pakis btw will probably treat u as anIndianMuslimDog
Completely in agreement with you. Hinduism doesn't have any room for creeps like these.
These @@Rascals understand only one labguage - THE LANGUAGE OF MODI - when in majority these @@rascals demolish the minority and when they are in minority, they demand secularism and rights - give it to these @@filty brats Mr. Modi - we are with u all the way.
I have noted that only VHP extremist views are published here,all the other comments made by us others have been deleted.By the way,burning Churches,killing or raping mother or sister likes is a VHP tradition,and it has nothing to do with Hinduism.We Hindus love every creation of God as God itself.
I agree with Dr. Chander. I have high respect for all the hindus in India. They are tolerant people and respect other relitions. Otherwise, how will one explain the existance of muslims, sikhs, christians as minoriities in India?
if u really are Mr. Chander, u will be treated great in Saudi Arabia or your brother country porkistan ....wnaa give it a try Mr. Chander...i am feeling bad for treating u so bad here on an Indian website
U @@Rascals understand only one language - THE LANGUAGE OF MODI - when in majority these @@rascals demolish the minority and when they are in minority, they demand secularism and rights - give it to these @@filty brats Mr. Modi - we are with u all the way.
"Dr. Chander" please don't denigrate VHP. They are not the beastly organization made out to be. We need somebody to speak for the Hindus, because nobody else cares.
There is such a thing as rule of law.Yes, I was grieved when I first heard about the death of 56 Hindus in the bogie.Given a few days' time and with BJP ruling Gujarat,the culprits would have been brought to justice.Instead,some misguided Hindus in Gujarat,with active encouragement of Modi's government,took the law into their own hands and shamed themselves and Hindu Dharma.How would Hindus in India react if reverse happens in Australia or USA or UK where Hindus are the target.Hatred breeds more hatred.We must learn as human beings,regardless our personal private beliefs.India can march as a confident super ONLY when its minorities feel proud to be called Indians.Spread love,not hatred.Otherwise our children will become monsters, in due course,and will be feeding our scoundrel politicians' divide-and-rule agendas.
Gunsetty, our peaceloving ancestors also had vioews like yours...open ur eyes and see afghanistan, porkistan, bangladesh, now kashmir, old hyderabad...and scores of areas on teh bangla border....u big @@ARSE...dont u see that these @@rascals understand only one language - the language they use when in majority...wake up ...well done Modi
"gnsetty" you don't really know the facts. The media doesn't always tell you the truth. The media usually gives you a tainted view based on the politician that patronizes it. If Modi was such a monster, why would Gujarat elect him again and again and again? Are you going to cast aspersions on the Gujaratis now? 56 Hindus killed!! Don't forget however tragic and condemnable the following events were, if they hadn't happened... more Hindus would have been killed elsewhere in the country. Godhra was just a test case. The consequent violence basically told the Muslim conspirers that if something like this happened again, the Muslims might well be wiped out in India. That was the only reason why Godhra train burning was not repeated anywhere else in the country.
What about justice to those (Hindus) who were burnt alive in the Sabarmati Express, which is the root cause of all the riots in Gujarat? Address the root cause first. Where is the Supreme Court? Probably turning a deaf ear to Hindus. But if a muslim is hurt, it will hit the topmost headlines.
If this would have happened with your Family members like mother,daughter,sister then also you will question the HINDU justice first and MUSLIM justice first.
'justice is done' agreed!! Where is the justice to the 56 people 25 women
every such case is equally important and need justice..why special treatment for some? If justice not guaranteed in Gujarat as per SC, then I feel justice also not guranteed for Tytlor and Bofors cases and need to move them overseas.
Many Indians who want their kings and their thrones back in this country, do not seem to care about what kind of India they are leaving behind for their children to live. If we sow the seeds of hatred, violence and ignorance today, Our children will be there to reap that harvest. Can anyone be safe in that kind of a country?
Mr. Richard, we have seen the seeds of our ancestors actions - Afghanistan, Porkistan, Bangladesh, now kashmir and areas on the bangla border. NO MORE....WEARE WITH MODI NOW...THESE @@RASCALS UNDERSTAND ONLY ONE LANGUAGE - THE LANGUAGE OF MR. Modi
One would like Barkha Dutt is going to interviwe the Muslim Terorists and CPM goond who have killed many innceants in the COuntry or her brief is to prtoray the Muslims onLy.Let her give pror notice so that the questionaire be sent to her in advanceSitting in air conditioned office one can write any nonsense.
Can Bilkiss Banoo agree that all those who were involved in the carnage of Ghodra Express should be punished including abators like Lalloo and Banerjee J who falsely held that the said rly carriage was burnt by the passabgers from inside the carriage?Will she atleast say that injustice has been done to those who were charred and that was the root cause all riots!
Ofcourse those who of committed crime should be hanged regardless of weather he is Hindu or Muslim. Law has to prevail above all religions. But those who commit crime should be given punishment instead of killing
those people who have done that all in gudhra express should be hunged.yo me i can indian politicians can also do it to gain vote in majority to gain vote of hindus.a leader like modi can do anything.if u concetrate on his face he is looking like big mafia i thing gujratis r well aware of it.but the can spk.if u c when modi specially is addressing people.he is just proviking them.no other intrest he is having.he lovs gujrat not not india.day will cum he will make gujrat a seprate country.b carefull.jai hind
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