The 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case surrendered at Godhra sub-jail in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district around 11.30pm on Sunday, just before the deadline set by the Supreme Court was about to end. While two of the convicts walked into the sub-jail, the rest arrived by car. Two vehicles were seen entering the jail premises one after the other. Senior police officers and advocates were present outside the prison throughout Sunday. A security contingent, including crime branch and special operations group personnel, stood guard outside.

The surrender came after the Supreme Court dismissed the convicts’ appeal for more time to turn themselves in. The convicts had cited reasons such as pending surgeries, family marriages, and harvesting. On January 8, the SC bench had cancelled the early release order of the 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and killed 14 members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots.