NEW DELHI: A Muslim woman who was gang raped while pregnant during India’s devastating 2002 religious riots has appealed to government to rescind its decision to free 11 men who had been jailed for life for committing crime, after they were released on suspended sentences.

On Thursday, dozens of women protested against the release of men in New Delhi. Maimoona Mollah of All India Democratic Women’s Association said they are demanding state to roll back its decision. “Victim and other survivors should be allowed to live in peace and dignity,” Mollah said. Raj Kumar, additional chief secretary in Gujarat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party holds power told Indian Express newspaper that convicts’ application for remission was granted because they had completed over 14 years in jail. 

Videos on social media showing men being welcomed with sweets and garlands after their release from prison went viral, triggering outrage and anger from women, rights activists and opposition politicians. Vrinda Grover, a lawyer, called decision a “travesty and grave miscarriage of justice,” while speaking to India Today TV. Opposition lawmaker Rahul Gandhi took aim at Modi on Twitter, questioning what kind of message it sent to women in India from a government that says it wants to empower women. Victim, who is now in her 40s was pregnant when she was brutally gang raped in communal violence in 2002 in western state of Gujarat, which saw over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, killed in some of worst religious riots India has experienced since its independence from Britain in 1947. Seven members of woman’s family, including her three-year-old daughter were also killed in violence. The 11 men, released on Monday when India celebrated 75 years of independence, were convicted in 2008 of rape, murder and unlawful assembly.–Agencies

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 19 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.