MUMBAI: An Indian court on Thursday convicted five police officers and two doctors of tampering with evidence in the gang rape of a pregnant woman and the murder of her family during one of the worst incidents of religious unrest since independence.

Bilkis Bano was gang raped and seven of her relatives were killed during religious riots that broke out in Gujarat in 2002.

At least 2,000 Muslims were hacked, beaten, shot or burnt to death in the violence, which erupted after a group of Hindu pilgrims died in a train fire wrongly blamed on a Muslim mob.

On Thursday a court in Mumbai overturned an earlier acquittal of the seven accused following an appeal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

It also upheld the convictions of 11 Hindu men convicted of rape and murder in the case.

In a statement to the media, Bilkis expressed satisfaction that officials who had “emboldened, encouraged, and protected” her attackers had finally been convicted.

“My rights, as a human being, as a citizen, woman and mother were violated in the most brutal manner, but I had trust in the democratic institutions of our country,” she said.

“Now, my family and I feel we can begin to lead our lives again, free of fear.”

Bilkis and two of her children were the only survivors in a group of 17 Muslims who were attacked in 2002. Her three-year-old daughter was among the victims.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the state’s chief minister at the time, was accused of turning a blind eye to the violence but was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2012.

The state government has been accused of dragging its heels in prosecuting those accused in the riots.

“As per my knowledge, this is the first time that police officials have been convicted in any case pertaining to the Gujarat riots,” said special counsel for the CBI Hiten Venegavkar.

“No fresh trials will be carried out and the seven convicted can appeal to the Supreme Court of India,” Vengavkar added.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2017