The Hindu : National : CBI supports Bilkis' plea

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Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

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National

CBI supports Bilkis' plea

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 23. The Central Bureau of Investigation today filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court supporting the request of Bilkis Yakoob, a victim of gang rape during the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, to transfer the trial outside the State on the ground that the situation there was not conducive.

In her application, Bilkis had cited the CBI report that pulled up the local police for tardy investigation and pointed to the planned manner of the killings that took place at that time. She said the CBI had even arrested an investigating officer of the Gujarat police and filed a chargesheet on April 19.

She expressed apprehension that the trial might not be fair if it was held in Gujarat. The case was ripe for trial and it should, therefore, be conducted outside the State.

The CBI said the investigating agency apprehended that witnesses may be threatened and even harmed during the trial. Witnesses may be prevented from appearing before the trial court at Dahod as most of them resided in Dahod district. The 12 accused were also residents of the same district.

The case comes up for hearing on July 26.

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