We have been victims of politics, says Bilkis case convict day after being freed
A day after he and ten others have been launched from jail within the case associated to the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and homicide of her relations throughout the 2002 Gujarat riots, convict Shailesh Bhatt claimed that they have been “victims of politics.” Bhatt, 63, who mentioned he was a neighborhood functionary of the ruling BJP when he was arrested, and others together with his brother and co-convict Mitesh left for his or her village Singor in Gujarat’s Dahod district after strolling out of the Godhra jail.
Sentenced to life imprisonment, they have been launched on Monday underneath the Gujarat authorities’s remission coverage after finishing greater than 15 years in jail.
Bilkis Bano case: 11 lifers convicted for Gujarat riots gangrape, homicide let loose in Godhra; Congress calls BJP govt order ‘unprecedented’ pic.twitter.com/b6bY503sC3
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 16, 2022
Their reception on the village on Tuesday was muted and there was no seen celebration.
“Singor is a small village. All of the convicts belong to this village. We have been all victims of politics,” mentioned Shailesh Bhatt, chatting with reporters.
He was a farmer and likewise an office-bearer of the district unit of the BJP whereas his brother labored as a clerk at Panchmahals Dairy after they have been arrested, he mentioned.
“We have been arrested in 2004 and remained in jail for greater than 18 years. It feels good to be house with my relations. Everyone is comfortable that we’re again. My son was eight or 9 years outdated then, now he’s an grownup and works with Panchmahal Dairy. I’m comfortable for him,” Bhatt added.
His mom died when he was in jail in 2007.
The courtroom had granted him interim bail to carry out her final rites, he mentioned.
Bilkis Bano was 21 years outdated and 5 months pregnant when she was raped whereas fleeing the violence that broke out within the aftermath of the Sabarmati Specific prepare burning incident at Godhra in 2002.
Seven members of her household have been murdered.
Radheshyam Shah, one other convict, had asserted after his launch on Monday that they have been all harmless.
“We have been framed up due to our perception in sure ideology,” he had claimed earlier than the media.
One among them died throughout the trial whereas a few others misplaced their wives throughout their incarceration, he mentioned.
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