M A I N   N E W S

Bakery case: 9 more witnesses turn hostile

Vadodara, June 7
In a jolt to the prosecution, nine more witnesses in the Best bakery case, in which 12 persons were burnt alive in the aftermath of last year’s Godhra carnage, today turned hostile at a fast track court here.

The total number of witnesses turning hostile has now gone up to 15 as earlier six others, including prime witness Zahira Shaikh, had turned hostile.

During cross examinations, the witnesses, five Muslims and four Hindus, deposing before Additional District Sessions Judge H.U. Mahida, said their signatures were obtained on a prepared statement by the police and they were not aware of its contents.

They said we did not visit the site nor see any weapon. The police had called them and they were asked to sign the paper without knowledge of the contents of the paper.

Kalu Mir Kalu Miya Hamirmiya, an important witness, said he never knew where the bakery was located before or after the incident.

Another witness Abdul Shamim denied government pleader’s statement that the panchnama was prepared in his presence while witness Chand Mohammed Usman said the police took his signature on the paper when he was passing the area.

Abdul Rehman Ghulam admitted he was called to the police station to sign it. Another witness Sandeep Patel also denied having read contents of the paper before signing it. PTI