Gadchiroli Aug. 31 (District Correspondent) The Nationalist Mahila Congress Party staged demonstrations at the local Indira Gandhi Chouk protesting against release of the convicts in Bilkis Bano rape and murder case and demanded that the rapists be jailed again immediately.
The workers assembled in the chouk in large numbers holding banners and party flags and shouted slogans against the release of the said convicts who were undergoing jail for their heinous crime.
Bilkis Bano was a victim of the 2002 Gujarat massacre where she was gang-raped by 11 people. The murder of her three-year-old daughter ended the family. But undeterred, Bilkis Bano fought a long court battle. A special CBI court in Mumbai sentenced 11 people to life imprisonment. The Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court also delivered the same punishment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the Red Fort on the country’s Independence Day, about women’s dignity faded into thin air by evening and the Gujarat government extrajudicially released the 11 rapists of Bilkis Wano. This act is not only unconstitutional but also a disgrace to humanity and a shambles of the justice system, said the NCP leaders while speaking in the agitation.
It was demanded that the rapists be jailed again immediately. The central government should pay attention to the fact that the Gujarat government took this decision when there was no provision in the law to release the rapists.
NCP Divisional Women President Shaheen Bhabhi Hakim, District President Ravindra Wasekar, Youth District President Liladhar Bhardkar, District Vice President Fahimbhai Kazi, District Secretary Sanjay Koche, District General Secretary Jagan Jambhulkar, Taluka President Vivek Babanwade, City President Minal Chimurkar, Nita Bobate, Kapil Bagde, Aarti Kolhe, Sandhya Uike, Suvarna Pawar, Manisha Khewle, Mamta Chilbule, Anita Kolte, Ajju Pathan, Babytai Labhan, Chetna Meshram and other workers were present during the agitation.
Photo NCP workers staging demonstrations.
