(Hindustan Times, November 2, 2007)
She saw it all, dared to fight
Riddhi Shah, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Godhra, November 02, 2007
It’s the proverbial case of David versus Goliath. Madina Bi Sheikh, 38, is no more than five feet tall but her determination to bring justice to her murdered family members has resulted in an impressive victory — eight life terms for rioters in Gujarat. And consequently, the embarrassment of an administration that is fast becoming synonymous with the most large-scale massacre of Muslims in this country’s history.
More than 2,000 Muslims are said to have died in the 2002 riots that tore Gujarat apart, and seven of those slain were part of Madina Bi’s family — whose deaths she witnessed while hiding in a maize field in the village of Eral, some 40 kilometers outside Godhra. “I can still hear their screams. I saw my mother-in-law being stabbed; I saw them rape my daughter and then cut off her breasts before setting fire to her,” she says.
The only people who remain in her family today are husband Mustafa Ismail Sheikh, nephew Feroze Sheikh (both of whom happened to be away on work on March 2) and three children who were let off despite being spotted — but not before Feroze’s son Taufiq’s thumb was sliced off.
And so began the long and arduous journey to bring the perpetrators to book. Along the way, she dealt with threats (“they promised they would force all the Muslims out of the village if we didn’t take the case back”), bribes (“they offered us Rs 25 lakh; I told them I’d pay them the same amount if they let me kill seven members of their family’) and endless sleepless nights.
The threats continue, despite the court verdict. This time, reportedly from men like Purshottan Gordhan, who was let off despite Madina Bi’s testimony accusing him of being her daughter’s rapist. “I get so upset when I realise that these men are out on the streets, shouting obscenities at my husband every time he passes by,” she says.
The sleepless nights continue too. In fact, Madina Bi’s anxiety has gotten so acute that she now refuses to step outside her home — unless it is for yet another visit to the court. “It’s worse for my younger daughter Heena, who witnessed everything with me. She’s almost lost her mind. She can’t study, she refuses to even go to another room alone,” Madina Bi explains. With two of her daughter’s alleged rapists roaming free, the nightmare is far from over; she now plans to take the case to the high court.
The Sheikh case is especially important because it comes at a time when the spotlight is back on the Godhra riots. This is partly due to a sting operation by news outfit Tehelka on the state BJP’s alleged involvement in the pogrom. With the assembly elections a month away, it remains to be seen whether the riots will once again become an election issue.
“But regardless of whether the politicians acknowledge her victory, Madina Bi has sent out a huge message to the rest of the world. That if you stick to your guns, you can win even against the (Narendra) Modi government,” says Jahnavi Andharia of Anandi, an NGO working in the Panchmahals area.
And so, this unassuming housewife from rural Gujarat has inadvertently become a symbol of hope for thousands of riot victims whose cases still languish in courts scattered across the state. “It’s been difficult but we have fought thinking that we died in 2002 too. This is our rebirth,” Madina Bi says.
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ndtv;com
Eral verdict: Battle half won
Rohit Bhan
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 (Ahmedabad)
Disappointed but determined. On Tuesday, it was half the battle won for Madina Shiekh.
An additional sessions judge in Godhra convicted 11 of the 40 accused involved in the Eral massacre of March 2002.
Seven innocent Muslims were killed in this village near Godhra. That included Madina's daughter Shabana, who was raped in front of her eyes before being burnt alive.
Madina's statement was the basis for conviction of the accused. But she is not satisfied, as among the 29 people let off are two whom she identified as the attackers.
''I had identified more but they have been let off. I don't think justice has been done completely. I will fight till all the accused are punished,'' she said
It's been long wait for justice. While the conviction of the 11 accused including a former taluka president was good news, what came as a disappointment for the survivors was that some of the accused were let of.
Firoz, who lost four of his family members in the massacre, is disappointed.
''The BJP leader had tried to put pressure and tried to intimidate us, but we managed to withstand that. So we want others also to be punished,'' said Firoz Adambhai, Riot victim.
The defence and the prosecution say they will appeal against the verdict.
The conviction of 11 accused has brought some hope to other riot victims. Even so, there is still a long battle ahead.
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