M A I N   N E W S

Best Bakery case: Amnesty for fresh trial

New Delhi, July 9
Expressing concern over the acquittal of the 21 accused in the Best Bakery case, Amnesty International today said the acquittal had “confirmed its worst fears about the lack of government commitment to ensure justice to the victims of communal violence in Gujarat” and demanded a fresh trial of the case.

“Statements made by key witnesses in the past few days clearly accused BJP politicians and other interested parties of threatening and harassing them to withdraw their testimony. With numerous cases due to come for trial, this situation is unacceptable,” it said in a statement here.

Demanding that the Central Government should ensure the safety and protection of witnesses in this case and other pending cases, the amnesty said: “The government should further order an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of witnesses that they had received threats to withdraw their testimony and prompt action should be taken against those found guilty”.

The statement further said: “at the time of violence in Gujarat, India dismissed international expressions of concern as interference, arguing that India’s criminal justice system and other institutions, including the NHRC, would be able to adequately address the situation in Gujarat. Those statements today appear hollow.” — PTI