The Meghalaya State Commission for Women today called the remission of life sentence to the 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano rape case “a mockery to the Centre’s appeal of Nari Shakti which was proudly spoken of on our 75th Independence.”
“We fear this lenient approach towards the convicted perpetrators will set a damaging precedent for the future which is a blatant mockery to our criminal justice legal system,” a statement from the commission said.
The commission said the pre-mature release of the gang rapist and murderers is a step back in time where women were oppressed and violated for their sex; and feelings of being unsafe in one’s own land are a day to day reality.
“We as a commission is greatly devastated and demotivated to fight for women’s right, empowerment and justice in an environment where women are being oppressed and suppressed: physically, mentally and morally,” the commission said.
Pointing out that the objective of State Women’s Commission is to work for protecting and safeguarding women’s rights, the women’s panel said it stands in solidarity with Bilkis Bano and all the movements, nationally and globally, while calling for revoking the remission.
