Patia gang-rape: No monetary help, yet

Gujarat Government is yet to award compensation of Rs5 lakh to victims of gangrape during violence in Naroda Patia Massacre on February 28, 2002. Special Judge Dr Jyotsna Yagnik, who delivered the verdict in the massacre case in August 2012, had asked government to pay compensation to the victim.

“We have started process to get compensation, but are yet to receive any,” said Govind Parmar, lawyer of the gangrape victim. There is no denial (in awarding compensation) from the government but our plea is still pending (before the government),” he said.

As per sources in know of the case, the special judge hadn’t set time limit for awarding compensation but ideally, government should disburse it within three months of the judgement. The court has held that the victim was gangraped but the accused couldn’t be identified during the trial.

While delivering the verdict in Naroda Patia case, Yagnik ordered compensation to the gangrape victim who also was an important witness in the case. Prime accused – Dr Maya Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi and Kishan Korani were sentenced 28 years to life-term in jail.