KTR condemns release of 11 convicts of Bilkis Bano gangrape case; urges PM Modi to revoke decision

Telangana minister KTR has condemned the release of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano gangrape case on August 15 and urged PM Modi to revoke the decision.

Flaying the release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) stated such instances would compel the public to lose faith in the system.

Under the Gujarat government's remission policy, eleven convicts walked out of Godhra sub-jail free on August 15. The update came after one of the applicants approached the Supreme Court with their remission plea and the same was allowed. The grant of the remission was subject to them completing 14 years in prison as against the life imprisonment punishment that was awarded to them.

In the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat mob violence and riots, Bilkis Bano was gang-raped and 13 were convicted in the case wherein 11 were awarded life imprisonment.

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KTR, while expressing his anger over the release of the convicts, said it was very unfortunate that the 11 rapists who committed the heinous act were released. He further condemned the move and said the timing was worse as the nation has been celebrating 75 years of independence.

He criticised the Gujarat government for exposing its approach by releasing the rapists who gang-raped Bilkis Bano, who was five months pregnant at the time. KTR also said that people lose faith in the system due to such actions and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in this matter at the earliest.

KTR further said that the time was right for PM Modi, who directed the nation from the Red Fort on August 15 to respect women, to prove his sincerity. He suggested that the Gujarat government's order for the release of 11 rapists should be revoked and convicts should be sent back to jail.