India awards largest compensation to Bilkis Bano, a rape victim from anti-Muslim riots
In March 2002, Bilkis Bano was gang raped and 14 members of her family murdered in one of the worst episodes during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of the state at the time.
For three days the rioters had free rein, as the state administration and police turned a blind eye.
In the end, more than 1,000 people died, most of them Muslim.
Now, 17 years later, India’s Supreme Court has awarded Bilkis an exemplary compensation of 5 million Rupees or 64,000 euros, a house in a place of her choice and a government job.
This is the highest compensation ever given to a rape survivor in India.
Murali Krishnan met up with her and has this report.
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