PANJIM: Social activists and citizens concerned from across different sections of society have raised their voice against the premature release of the 11 men convicted in the Bilkis Bano case for gang rapes and mass murders during the 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat.
Protesting at Azad Maidan, here, recently, the protestors raised slogans of “jailint ghal, jailint ghal, crimidorank jailint ghal” (Put the criminals back in jail) and “Bilkis Bano aage bado, hum tumhare saath hai” (Move ahead, Bilkis Bano, we are with you) and called for release of the rapists to be revoked immediately.
The groups also drew up a signature petition to the Chief Justice of India, expressing their anguish at the “arbitrary exercise of power by the Gujarat government, undoing the justice fought for 17 years”.
“We fear that the social security that our country offers via the Constitution and the legal provisions on heinous crimes such as rape and murder is being eroded with the remission of the sentence, setting a bad precedent for the future,” Advocate Albertina Almeida said.
“The blatant celebration of the convicts’ release has sent a spine chilling message that it is heroic to commit crimes against minorities,” she added.
The petition to the Chief Justice said, “We call upon the highest court of justice to cancel the remission of the 11 gang rape-cum-multiple murder convicts under the prevailing circumstances, which has heightened the insecurity of people, particularly women from the minorities.”
The protestors also demanded protection for Bilkis Bano, her family, the witnesses, and those assisting her.
The vociferous protest was also against the increasing number of sexual assault cases and botch ups of justice mechanisms in Goa. There are innumerable cases, the latest being that of the murder of teenager Siddhi Naik, where the case was closed by the police due to lack of evidence.
In BJP leader Sonali Phogat’s murder case there was reluctance to file the FIR until the family members came and pursued the matter, the protestors said.
“Goa has become unsafe for women due to the promotion of vices for tourism. The environment due to drugs, casino, prostitution and alcohol promotion is a serious threat to the safety of women and the public at large,” said Sabina Martins of Bailancho Saad.
“To protect the image of the State justice for women is being botched up at every level. Since March 2022, the Goa State Commission has not appointed a chairperson, date indicating the low priority for redressal mechanisms for women,” said advocate Caroline Colaco.
Prominent activists namely Rashida Muzawar representing Muslim Women’s Associations, actor and activist Nafisa Ali, Shireen from National Women’s Front, and members representing the National Human Rights Commission, SST and Domestic Workers Union also spoke at the protest.
