Bilkis Bano Wiki, Age, Husband, Case, Daughter, Parents, 2002 Gujarat Riots, Biography, Career, Young

Bilkis Bano (born in 1981, Age: 43 Years) is an Indian survivor of the 2002 Gujarat riots, who became a symbol of hope and strength for many women in India. Her life and story have inspired many, and her fight for justice has made her a role model for women’s empowerment and social justice.

Bano’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Her fight for justice has shown that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. Bilkis Bano’s legacy will continue to inspire generations of women to stand up for their rights and fight against injustice. Read this article, to know more information about Bilkis Bano.

Bilkis Bano Biography, Age & Education

Bilkis Bano was born in 1979 in a small village in Dahod, Gujarat. She grew up in a family of farmers and was married at the age of 19 to Yakub Rasool, who was a laborer. They settled in Randhikpur, a small town in the Dahod district. She follows the Islamic religion. Talking about her age then, she is 41 years old (as of 2023). Her educational details are not available.

Wiki | Biodata | Trivia

Full name	Bilkis Yakub Rasool.
Famous As	Bilkis Bano.
Age (as of 2023)	41 years old.
Profession	Homemaer & Entrepreneur.
Birth date	1981.
Birthplace	Village Radhikpur, District Dahod, Gujarat.
Education	High School Graduate.
Alma mater	N/A.
Marital Status	Married.
Husband	Yakub Rasool.
Children	Saleha.
Parents	Father– Abdul Ghachi. Mother– Name Not Known.
Siblings	Brother– N/A Sisters– Her younger sisters were killed in the Gujarat Riots in 2002.
Ethnicity	Mixed (Asian).
Height	5 feet 4 inches (approx.).
Weight	60 Kilograms (approx.).
Hair Color	Black.
Eyes Color	Black.
Religion	Islam.
Nationality	Indian.
Net worth (approx.)	N/A.
Social Media Profiles	Instagram Facebook Twitter Wikipedia

Who are Bilkis Bano’s Parents & Siblings?

In 1981, Bilkis was born into a large family. She spent her entire childhood in Gujarat with her family. The name of Bano’s mother is unknown, and her father’s name is Abdul Ghachi. Abdul Ghachi was the owner of a milk-selling business. In 2002, the Gujarat Riots resulted in the brutal deaths of her mother and sisters.

Let me tell you that she, her mother, and her siblings were gang-raped during the Gujarat Godhra riots in 2002. Her eight family members were killed by the rapists, and they also tried to kill Bilkis, but she was unconscious and they thought she was dead. Eight of her family’s 17 members were killed, and others are still missing.

Bilkis Bano Gang Rape Case in 2002 Gujarat Riots

A group of Muslims attacked a coach of the Sabarmati Express early on February 27, 2002. Ayodhya to Godhra was the destination of a train carrying Hindu passengers. The crowd set the train on fire, killing approximately 59 Hindus. The Hindus of Gujarat became enraged as soon as word spread that the attackers were Muslims. Hindu mobs began attacking Muslims throughout the state. They began plundering, killing, and in any event, assaulting the Muslims. The attack resulted in the deaths of numerous Muslim families.

The Hindu mobs attacked Muslim families, including Bilkis Bano and her family. When Bilkis heard that Hindu mobs were attacking Muslims, she and her family made the decision to flee to a safer location. Bilkis stated in an interview that

while recalling the incident, I was making lunch in the kitchen when my aunt and her children ran. They informed us that we needed to leave right away because their homes were being set on fire. We only took what we were wearing with us when we left, and we didn’t even have time to put on our slippers.”

After that, Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at the time, her daughter, mother, siblings, and a few other members of her family hide at the village home of the sarpanch. They then sought refuge in a village school before moving to a mosque. One of her cousins, who was nine months pregnant at the time, gave birth to a girl at this point. On March 3, 2002, the Hindu mob spotted Bilkis and her family as they attempted to flee to various locations.

Bilkis and her family were assaulted by the Hindu mob, which consisted of 20 to 30 individuals. Bilkis’ daughter was taken from her by a mob member and smashed against a stone, resulting in her death. Afterward, the horde fiercely assaulted Bilkis, her kin, and her mom. Out of her 17 relatives, 8 were killed and others disappeared. Bilkis was left unconscious after the brutal assault; the mob thought she was dead, so they left her there.

She reportedly entered consciousness nearly three hours later. She fled to a hillock and covered her naked body with a nearby petticoat. When she awoke the following day, her throat was getting dry, so she looked for water nearby. After that, she came across a handpump where an Adivasi woman gave her some clothing. Bilkis saw a cop there, she mentioned him to help her. After that, he drove her in a police jeep to the Limkheda Police Station.

At the police headquarters, she gave her assertion to the Police Head Constable, Somabhai Gori. Due to the fact that the majority of the men were well-known to Bilkis and came from her village, she was the only witness left who knew the names of the culprits. She was taken to a relief camp after the head constable refused to register her complaint. She met her husband, who had been missing since the incident. The incident was discussed by Bilkis’ husband during an interview. He stated,

“I put everything aside,” including the riots and our lost family. I attempted to alleviate her suffering by speaking to her with love. I’ve heard Bilkis testify to NGO workers, lawyers, and journalists a million times since then, but I’ve never asked her, “What happened to you?” Who did what? You have also heard the words, but I have felt them in my heart each time.

Bilkis underwent a medical examination in the camp, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took her case immediately. Afterward, the High Court of India moved her case to the CBI. The CBI initially attempted to locate the bodies of her family members, but the beheadings by the mob prevented them from doing so. After that, Bilkis asked the Supreme Court to move her case outside of Gujarat because she was being threatened with death and had to move into 20 different apartments.

In August 2004, the Supreme Court moved her case from Gujarat to a special court in Mumbai after accepting her plea. Nineteen men, including six police officers and a government doctor, were charged in court. Shobha Gupta, an Indian lawyer, took Bilkis’ case.

Who Found Guilty?

In the case of Bilkis’ rape, 13 men were found guilty on January 21, 2008, and eleven of them were given life sentences. According to the special court, Shailesh Bhatt killed her daughter, and Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, and Naresh Kumar Mordhiya—who has since passed away—raped Bilkis. Radheshyam Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Vohania, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Nitesh Bhatt, Ramesh Chandana, and Head Constable Somabhai Gori were the other people convicted in the case.

The verdict of the Mumbai special court was upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India ordered the Gujarat government to compensate Bilkis with Rs 50 lakhs, but she refused. After that, the Gujarat government appointed a panel that approved the convicts’ request for a life sentence reduction.

The prisoners were released from the Godhra sub-jail on August 15, 2022. The remission application was considered because the convicts had completed 14 years in prison, as well as factors such as “age, nature of the crime, behavior in prison and so on,” the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Raj Kumar stated upon the convicts’ release.

Later, a petition was filed to prevent the victims of Bano from being released. Subhashini Ali, a member of the CPI(M) Politburo, Mahua Moitra, a member of the Trinamool Congress, and women’s rights activists all submitted the petition. The petition will be heard by the bench headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on August 25, 2022. The supreme court ordered the Gujarat government to respond to the accused release case during the hearing.

Legal Battle and Fight for Justice

Bilkis Bano’s legal battle for justice was a long and arduous one. Initially, the case was closed by the local police, and it was only after the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission that the case was reopened. In 2004, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case and filed charges against 19 accused, including police officers and doctors who had tried to cover up the crime.

The accused were charged with rape, murder, and criminal conspiracy. In 2008, Bilkis Bano and her family were given police protection after receiving threats. The same year, a special court in Mumbai convicted 11 people, including a police officer and a doctor, and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

The court also acquitted the seven accused. In 2017, the Bombay High Court upheld the life imprisonment of the 11 convicted accused and also convicted five police officers and two doctors for tampering with evidence in the case. The court also ordered compensation for Bilkis Bano and directed the state government to provide her with a job and accommodation.

Impact and Legacy

Bilkis Bano’s fight for justice has inspired many and has become a symbol of hope and strength for women in India. Her case has highlighted the issue of violence against women and the need for justice for survivors of communal violence.

Bilkis Bano has become a spokesperson for women’s rights and has spoken at various forums, including the United Nations, about her experiences and the need for justice. She has also been recognized with various awards, including the Neerja Bhanot Award and the International Women of Courage Award.

Bilkis Bano’s Husband & Daughters

Yakub Rasool is the husband of married Bilkis. The couple got married in the late 1990s, and they have been together ever since. Saleha was her first daughter. Her three-year-old daughter was killed by falling to the ground during the Godhra riots in 2002. In addition, she was five months pregnant at the time.

Bano gave birth to her second daughter after some time and gave her the name Saleha in honor of her older daughter. Allow me to let you know that, her better half is extremely steady and cherishing. She and Yakub were always there for one another and cared for one another during the Godhra riots.

Also Read: Daati Maharaj Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Biography, Rape Case | Dreshare

Bilkis Bano Latest News

On Saturday, March 25, one of the convicted rapists in the Bilkis Bano case was seen on stage with Dahod MP Jasvantsinh Bhabhor of the Bharatiya Janata Party. During a government function, BJP MP and Shailesh Bhatt, one of the men who raped Bilkis in 2002 and was released prematurely, shared the stage.

Shailesh was one of the eleven men found guilty of brutally raping Bano. In the meantime, the plea challenging the remission of the 11 rapists is scheduled to be heard by a new Supreme Court bench.

Career & Net worth

Bilkis is a homemaker who used to finish her home errands consistently in everyday practice. Because she is not a working woman, there are no details about her professional life or career. Discussing her pay subtleties, Bilkis Bano’s total assets are obscure. When appropriate information regarding her job, career, and income becomes available, this section will be updated shortly.

Facts About Bilkis Bano

• She was a survivor of the 2002 Gujarat riots, where she was gang-raped and her three-year-old daughter was killed in front of her eyes.
• Bilkis Bano fought for justice for herself and other victims of the riots.
• Her legal battle for justice was a long and arduous one, and it was only after the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission that the case was reopened.
• In 2008, a special court in Mumbai convicted 11 people, including a police officer and a doctor, and sentenced them to life imprisonment for their role in the crime.
• In 2017, the Bombay High Court upheld the life imprisonment of the 11 convicted accused and convicted five police officers and two doctors for tampering with evidence in the case.

• Bilkis Bano has become a spokesperson for women’s rights and has spoken at various forums, including the United Nations, about her experiences and the need for justice.
• She has been recognized with various awards, including the Neerja Bhanot Award and the International Women of Courage Award.
• Bano received a compensation of Rs 50 Lakhs from the Supreme Court in 2019.
• Bilkis Bano’s story has inspired many and has become a symbol of hope and strength for women in India.
• She has become a role model for women’s empowerment and social justice, and her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

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