Ahmedabad, Oct 09: The Gujarat Police, in an affidavit before the Gujarat High Court, today said it would provide protection to Best Bakery massacre case witnesses, including those who had approached the Supreme Court. The affidavit, filed by K Kumaraswamy, Joint Commissioner of Police, Vadodara stated Yasmin Bano, the crucial eyewitness and sister of key eyewitness Zaheera Sheikh, who resides in Vadodara, has agreed for police protection while five others have refused it.
The affidavit also states providing protection to four witnesses in Uttar Pradesh, one in Bihar and four in Mumbai, including Zaheera.
The Gujarat High Court on September 26 had asked the Director General of Police to file affidavits in connection with protection to witnesses in Best Bakery case after Zaheera and three others had approached the apex court saying, they had "lied before the fast track court at Vadodara during trial out of fear for their lives following threats".
The Vadodara Police Commissioner has informed the Additional Director Generals of Police and district Superintendents of Police of the concerned states about providing protection to the witnesses, the affidavit said.
Thirty-seven of 73 witnesses, including Zaheera, had turned hostile during the trial of the Best Bakery massacre with the fast track court acquitting all 21 accused persons.
Bureau Report