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Thursday, May 12, 2005

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Unexpected turn to Best Bakery case

Staff Reporter

Journalist's 19-minute video clip shows Zaheera, her mother and brothers narrating the March 1, 2002 incidents

Contrary to her current testimony in the case, Zaheera says: "Even I was hit. They were saying do not spare anyone. They had surrounded four of us women separately and were saying that they would rape us and kill us."

MUMBAI: The Best Bakery trial took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when a journalist appeared before the court and submitted a video tape and VCD of his interviews with Zaheera Sheikh and members of her family as evidence in the trial. The court has taken custody of the cassette saying "prima facie it appears that evidence produced may be relevant" and prosecution is likely to examine him on Thursday.

Prakash Shankar, who now works as Assignment Editor with Prasar Bharati, Doordarshan News, made an application saying that he had interviewed Zaheera's family on April 18, 2002 in which they narrated the incident of the burning of Best Bakery resulting in the death of 14 persons. At that time he was working with a private channel, he said. The application mentioned that those interviews were crucial evidence and he had come forward as a citizen of India.

The 19-minute video clip, a copy of which is with The Hindu, shows Zaheera, her mother and both the brothers narrating the incidents that took place on March 1, 2002. They name the assailants and state that even after over one-and-a-half months, no one had contacted them.

The clip starts with Zaheera's brother, Nafitullah's interview, narrating the incident. He says first nine people, including three Hindus, were killed on the ground floor while around 16 people watched from the top floor.

"It went on from 8 p.m. till 10 a.m. the next day. They asked us to come down and told us that they will not harm us if we leave but as we came down they tied us up. They attacked with swords and then poured kerosene. Only six of us escaped because a police van came."

`I know them'

Asked about the identity of the attackers he says, "I know them. I know them. Those are the ones the police have caught." In the video clip he also shows the scars on his neck while his younger brother, Naseebullah, shows burns on his legs. Their mother Sehrunissa also speaks and narrates what she saw.

Contrary to her current testimony in the case, where she has stated that she does not recall what happened, in the interview, Zaheera says, "Even I was hit. They were saying do not spare anyone. They had surrounded four of us women separately and were saying that they would rape us and kill us."

Identifying some of the accused, she goes on to say that a police van had come in the night but did not stop when they called out. The only help they got was in the morning. The family also says that they had not received any government help till then which was about 45 days after the incident.

Zaheera appears

Even as the court debated admission of this evidence, Zaheera turned up in court following the bailable warrant issued against her earlier in the week.

However, she was not examined. Her brother, Nafitullah's examination was completed. He was shown pictures and was asked to identify himself and Zaheera.

He was asked about his bank accounts and income.

He denied that he was given money to depose falsely in the court. Zaheera is likely to be examined on Thursday.

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