Under the Gujarat’s remission policy, eleven convicts who sentenced to life for gang rape and murder in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case walked out from Godhra sub-jail on Monday. The release took place based on the recommendation of a panel set up a few months ago to consider their release under the above mentioned policy.

“The committee had been formed on the instructions of the Supreme Court” Sujal Mayathra, Panchmahal collected said, according to reports. The release order was issued on Sunday. Bilkis Bano, the victim was 21 year old and five months pregnant while she was sexually assaulted on 3rd of March, 2002. She suffered the trauma while fleeing rioting in the aftermath of the Godhra train burning and her three kids were among the victims.

On March 3, the accused took shelter in a field when a mob of 20-30 people armed with sickles, swords and sticks attacked them and Bilkis Bano was gang raped, while seven members of her family were killed. Six other members managed to run away.

These 11 who are being welcomed with sweets were sentenced for life by the court but released by the govt for gang-raping a pregnant muslim woman, Bilkis Bano during 2002 Gujarat riot. They had also killed her 7 family members, including her 3yr daughter. pic.twitter.com/UqzTed5bbO

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) August 16, 2022

On 21st of January 2008, a special CBI court sentenced all 11 accused to life imprisonment. The Bombay high court upheld their conviction for gang rape and murder of seven members of Bano’s family. After over 15 years in Jail, one of the convicted men moved a remission plea in the Supreme Court which directed Gujarat to look into it.

Now, a video of the accused getting massive reception with sweets and respect such as “Aarthi”, falling in their feet” surfaced in internet, creating huge outrage among the users of it. “In his independence day speech today, Narendra Modi spoke about empowering women. This evening, the men who brutally gangraped Bilkis Bano during the anti-Muslim Gujarat carnage have walked free. Happy 75 India” a social media user wrote with many others expressing similar emotions.

Check out some of the reactions below :

In his independence day speech today, Narendra Modi spoke about empowering women. This evening, the men who brutally gangraped Bilkis Bano during the anti-Muslim Gujarat carnage have walked free. Happy 75 India #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav #IndependenceDay #IndiaAt75 pic.twitter.com/6ViWsWjcE9

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) August 15, 2022

“All 11 life imprisonment convicts in 2002 Bilkis Bano gang rape case walk out of Godhra sub-jail under Gujarat govt’s remission policy” pic.twitter.com/zUbZlpDaaF

— Sanitary Panels (@sanitarypanels) August 16, 2022

தீர்ப்பு கொடுத்தவன் உட்பட ஒர்த்தனுக்கும் நல்ல சாவே வராது.

— ப செந்தில்குமார் (@bsenthilkumar05) August 16, 2022

No news report makes any reference to Gujarat govt seeking concurrence of Union government.

— K Venkataramanan (@kv_ramanan) August 16, 2022

Rape convicts of Gujarat 2002 riots being fed laddoos. Beyond sickening pic.twitter.com/NkT8tHWbMr

— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) August 16, 2022

These are not freedom fighters. These are rapists and murderers who were sentenced to life imprisonment, in #BikisBano case. Well, they got remission from Gujarat govt. #HappyIndependenceDay

Touching the feet of rapists and murderers is the new normal it seems. https://t.co/7rqkud5ce5

— Rohit Thayyil (@RohitThayyil) August 16, 2022

Let’s face it:

Not a single Noida TV channel or BJP supporter will utter a word of protest or shock only because:

A. her name was Bilkis Bano

B. the year was 2002 &

C. the place was/is Gujarat

— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) August 16, 2022

You wanna know who these proud gentlemen are?

Athletes, scientists, artists, businessmen who did our country proud?

Nupe, these are the 11 convicts of 2002 gangrape & murder of Bilkis Bano who were released by Gujarat Govt under it’s remission policy.

Let it sink in. pic.twitter.com/irQN5VF8rn

— Achal Shah (@achalshah06) August 16, 2022

Teesta Setalvad is in jail and rapists of Bilkis Bano have walked free.
This is Modi’s New India !

— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) August 16, 2022

2002, Bilkis Bano, was gang raped by fundamentalist Hndu men, as a part of the orchestrated horror, Godhra.

2022, these men , rape convicts, are released and felicitated.

As a Hndu woman, I feel nothing but grief and shame.

pic.twitter.com/Kgn3CIFGEE

— Mini Nair (@minicnair) August 16, 2022

These men are convicted rapists and murderers. They killed their neighbours including children and raped neighbour’s daughter. They are being felicitated. #IndiaAt75

pic.twitter.com/dif0gzDGN9

— Aparna (@chhuti_is) August 16, 2022

If your hatred for one community is so much that when people of that community are being raped and murdered, it doesn’t affect you, you are ill. You are disgusting as the rapist and murderer.
It’s disturbing to see these 11 criminals outside the jail. How can the court do this?

— Rakhi Tripathi (@rakhitripathi) August 16, 2022