Bengaluru, 18 Jan

Bengalureans on Thursday united to celebrate Supreme Court’s verdict on the Bilkis Bano case. The City reverberated with joy as nearly 46,000 people from the City had filed petitions in Supreme Court against the remission granted to the 11 convicts by the Gujarat government who were accused of raping Bilkis.

Over 200 people from all walks of life gathered under the pink blooms in Freedom Park and sang ‘Preetiya Gaali Beesutide’ the gist of which means ‘Love will win’.

The celebrations came after Bilkis’ 20-year battle against the convicts.

Bengalureans hailed Bilkis’ perseverance and said that her struggle taught them to fight their toughest battles in life without giving up.

Speaking to Salar News, one of the celebrators said, "Nothing is stronger than a woman raising her voice against the wrongs happening to her. Women such as Bilkis represent power.”

Arvash, an LGBTQ and human rights activist said, "Bilkis is the victim of the gang rape and she struggled for more than two decades but the release of the convicts shows us how the women's rights were taken away from her."

21-year-old Bilkis was pregnant when she and her family were attacked by a mob during the 2002 riots. She and two of her children were the only survivors of that attack. The men who gang-raped her and killed her family were accorded a hero's welcome upon their release by Gujarat in 2022

On 8 January, 2024, Supreme Court quashed Gujarat’s decision and ordered the 11 convicts to surrender within two weeks

While the celebrations are on, five of the 11 convicts have moved Supreme Court seeking more time to surrender. Meanwhile, six of the convicts are reportedly missing.