The All Manipur Nupi Lup on Friday condemned the release of 11 convicts who were imprisoned for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and alleged Prime Minister N Modi of making hollow speeches regarding the ‘Nari Shakti’ initiative.
A release issued by All Manipur Nupi Marup secretary L Sumatibala condemned the release of the 11 convicts who were imprisoned in Godhra Jail, Gujarat for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano in 2002 which shocked the entire nation.
The 11 convicts were released from the Godhra jail on August 15 under the remission policy of Gujarat government, despite the decree and verdict of the Bombay High Court in 2002, it added.
“Such unfortunate incidents had devalued the PM’s speech on ‘Nari Shakti’ during the 76th Independence Day celebration,” it stated.
It recalled the gang rape case of Bilkis Bano on March 3 of 2002, “during which more than 20 armed miscreants destroyed her home, killed seven people, including her three-year-old daughter, and sexually assaulted her repeatedly and left her unconscious body naked”.
It recalled the injustice Bilkis Bano faced when she complained to the Datos Police Station of Godhra, Gujarat. It further mentioned that Bano consulted with the National Human Rights Organisation after which the Supreme Court referred her case to the Bombay High Court from Gujarat High Court.
Highlighting the struggles Bilkis Bano had to go through to get justice, it questioned Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah if such incident of favouring rapists and murders is a part of the ‘Nari Shakti’ of “giving power to women”.
