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Welcome verdict

It is heartening that justice has prevailed in the Bilkis Bano case. She got justice mainly because of her dauntless spirit, the support of some social activists, the Supreme Court allowing the case to be heard outside Gujarat, the fight-to-the-finish attitude of her counsel, and the backing of her husband. But the Bilkis case is a mere speck in the plethora of crimes perpetrated in Gujarat in 2002. Only a justice delivery system that ensures a quick disposal of cases and provides protection to the victims and witnesses can give confidence to the victims to knock the doors of our courts.

Syed Sultan Mohiddin,

Kadapa

The awarding of life imprisonment to 11 persons in the case is all right but the acquittal of seven others for want of evidence does not sound fair. However, it is comforting that Bilkis’ struggle for justice has been vindicated by the judgment.

Swetha R. Deepak,

Chennai

A welcome verdict. And the quantum of punishment demonstrates the magnitude of the crimes committed against Bilkis and her family members — most of whom were killed in 2002. The trial was shifted to Mumbai from a court in Ahmedabad owing to the fear that the witnesses would be hurt. The justice denied to Bilkis in Gujarat has been rendered in Mumbai. Further, the case throws up a big challenge. Does a victim need to seek justice only through a trial outside his or her State? This should change.

P. Senthil Saravana Durai,

Vazhavallan

It is a big relief that 11 persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Bilkis case, although I feel justice would have been better served had all the accused been punished. Another perplexing issue is that the 11 men have been given two separate sentences but both sentences will run concurrently. This defeats the purpose of the two sentences. The men should be made to serve the sentences one after the other so that they spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Sikander Khan,

New Delhi

The life imprisonment to 11 persons for raping a pregnant woman and the subsequent murder of her relatives only reaffirms the existence of a fair judiciary in India, although the punishment has come a bit late. God knows what would have been the fate of the case had the trial been conducted in Gujarat. Now the least the Narendra Modi Government can do is to invite Bilkis and her family back to Gujarat and provide them adequate security.

B. Harish,

Mangalore

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