Bhayyalal Bhotmange, lone survivor of the 2006 Khairlanji massacre, told a press conference here on Wednesday that he would be moving an independent appeal in the Supreme Court against the order of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. He would be engaging a separate lawyer to fight his case, he said.
Mr. Bhotmange's appeal would be in addition to the one the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to file in the apex court.
The Nagpur bench, on July 14, commuted the death sentence awarded by a trial court to six of the accused persons. It also ruled that the killing of four members of Mr. Bhotmange's family was an act of revenge and not a case of caste atrocity.
“We did not get justice. The lower court gave death sentence, but the High Court commuted it to life. There is discontent among the Dalits owing to this. So we will go to the Supreme Court, whether the State [Maharashtra] helps us or not. We have the backing of the society,” Mr. Bhotmange said.
Earlier, he met Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to inform him of the decision. “Mr. Chavan said he had written a letter to the CBI regarding their appeal.” When asked if he was satisfied with the meeting, Mr. Bhotmange replied with an emphatic “no.”
In his effort to seek justice from the apex court, Mr. Bhotmange is being backed by a little known organisation called ‘The All India Dhammasena,' whose representatives attended the meeting with Mr. Chavan.
The organisation said the appeal would primarily encompass the charges of caste atrocity and sexual harassment, which were overlooked by both the trial court and the High Court. It would also point to the gaps in the investigation. Dhammasena's Bhayyaji Khairkar said with the CBI and the Supreme Court in the picture, there was no role left for the Maharashtra government to play.
