Khairlanji survivor to move apex court over HC verdict

MUMBAI: In a major setback to theCongress-led UPA government, Bhaiyyalal Bhotmage, the lone survivor of theKhairlanji massacre, has decided to personally file an appeal in the SupremeCourt against an order of the Bombay HC, which commuted the death sentenceawarded to the eight accused in the case to lifeimprisonment.Bhotmage told the media on Wednesday that he has lostfaith in the CBI. He and his associates said that till the last moment, the CBIdid not bother to counter the appeal filed by the accused in the HC against thejudgment of the trial court. They added that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi andother leaders promised that the CBI, which investigated the rape and murdercase, would expeditiously appeal to the SC, but nothing has been done sofar.Four members of the Bhotmage family, a Dalit, were tortured andmurdered by those belonging to OBC Kunbi caste at Khairlanji in Bhandaradistrict on September 29, 2006. Two female members of the family were alsoparaded naked in the village and raped."Today I met CM Ashok Chavan,who also assured that justice would be done. But apart from giving emptypromises, nothing is being done. Hence, I have decided to file an appeal of myown. I have lost faith in politicians," Bhotmange said.A team offour lawyers from Nagpur is drafting the appeal. "A senior counsel will beengaged to fight my appeal," he said. He said there were several deficiencies inthe investigation at the initial stage itself.He said the Preventionof Atrocities Act should have been pressed by the CBI because the violence wascertainly because the victims were Dalits. With Bhotmange, who isbeginning to emerge as a rallying point for Dalits across the state, theCongress is finding itself on the backfoot.