New Delhi: Gujarat Police has detained seven activists ahead of their planned foot march in solidarity with and to demand justice for Bilkis Bano, late on September 25.
Those detained were Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, Noorjahan Diwan, Tanushree, Nitesh Gangaramani, Kausar Ali, T. Gopal Krishna and Hanif Kalandar. Panchmahal district police called the detention “preventive action.”
The activists were detained from Kalandar’s residence in Godhra and brought to the town’s B-Division police station. Some of the activists posted live videos on social media from the police station.
Sandeep Pandey who is detained at the Kakanpur police station has reportedly started a fast in protest against the police action.
Three of those detained – Hanif Kalandar, Noorjahan and Tanushree have been released.
Speaking to The Wire, Hanif Kalandar said, “A total of eight people were detained. The others are still at Kakanpur police station. We were not given any reason as to why we were detained. We want to go ahead with our foot march now that three of us have been released.”
He added, “I feel like we are being blackmailed by the Gujarat police and the Modi government. All we are asking for is justice and we are asking for those who have committed the crimes against Bilkis to be given their due punishment.”
Also read: Bilkis Has Struggled Long Enough. The Fight for Justice Is Now India’s Burden to Discharge.
The proposed foot march was to have taken off from Randhikpur in Dahod on September 26. The Hindu Muslim Ekta Samiti, which had organised it, wanted to walk till Ahmedabad.
The purpose of it was to stand by Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped and several of whose family members were murdered during the 2002 Gujarat riots. This August, men who had been convicted of these crimes were set free after their sentences were remitted.
Speaking to Hindus for Human Rights Sandeep Pandey said, “We have been brought to a police station 15 km from Godhra. Our yatra was to apologise to Bilkis Bano, not to oppose the government. I am an anti-caste atheist, but as a person born into a Hindu family, I feel these people are a blot, and I am deeply ashamed.”
He added, “This is happening in Gandhi’s Gujarat — Gandhi, who called for truth and non-violence. It is a matter of deep injustice that that the murderers and rapists were released and celebrated as sanskaari Brahmins, we peaceful yatris been detained. Why are they afraid of us?”
Messages of outrage and those calling for the release of those detained have flooded social media.
Dr. Sandeep Pandey along with 6 others have been detained at the Godhra police station even before they could start their yatra demanding justice for Bilkis Bano.
First, let the rapist free & then detain those demanding justice for victims.
That's gujarat model for us.— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) September 25, 2022
Strongly condemn the detention of
Dr. Sandeep Pandey, Noorjahan Diwan, Hanif Kalandar, Tanushree , Nitesh Gangaramani, Kausar Ali & T Gopal Krishna by Godhra police on the eve of the proposed Yatra is support of Bilkis Bano.
Demand their immediate release. @CMOGuj— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) September 25, 2022
Magsaysay peace activist Sandeep Pandey and 6 others detained in Godhra for peaceful demonstration against the release of the criminals involved in the Bilkis Bano case. Release Sandeep Pandey NOW!
— pamela philipose (@pamelaphilipose) September 25, 2022
