Bilkis Bano case: SC asks Guj govt for details on action taken against cops

The 19-year-old approached the local police station to register a case against the assailants.

The Supreme Court has asked the Gujarat government to report to it about the action taken against the policemen accused of dereliction of duty in the Bilkis Bano rape case.

The court directed the Gujarat government to appraise it about the departmental action taken against those cops found guilty of dereliction of duty.

It was alleged in the SC that the cops who were found guilty are back on duty. The Gujarat government however told the court that these persons had served out their sentences. The victim also submitted in the court that she wanted enhancement of compensation. To this the SC directed her to file a separate special leave petition.

On March 3, 19-year-old Bilkis Bano along with her family were on their way, escaping a mob on a truck. Bilkis was five months pregnant and accompanying her were 17 other people in the truck, including her 2-year-old daughter. The truck was attacked by an armed mob, who gangraped her and killed 14 members of her family including her daughter, her mother Halima and cousin Shamim.

The 19-year-old approached the local police station to register a case against the assailants. However, the police dismissed her case and threatened her with dire consequences if she proceeded with the matter. She then approached the National Human Rights Commission of India and petitioned the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court directed the CBI to probe into the matter.

In the meantime, she along with her family were issued threats, which forced her to request the SC to move the case outside Gujarat. The SC then shifted the case to Maharashtra.

In the Mumbai court, charges were filed against 19 men, including 6 police officers and a government doctor. In January 2008, 11 of them were sentenced to life imprisonment for gangrape and murder.

OneIndia News