Vadodara, Sept 22: Claiming that innocent persons were named by her sister-in-law and key witness Zahira and two others, Yasmin Banu, has demanded that her name be included in the list of witnesses to "tell the truth" about the Best Bakery case before the court. Her plea comes close on heels of Supreme Court allowing Gujarat government to file amended plea in the high court as the original appeal was poorly drafted.

Yasmin Banu told a news agency here that "her plea to Zahira, her mother Sehrunissa and her husband Nafitullah not to name innocent persons in the case fell on deaf ears". She said she has already conveyed her desire to the police and charged Zahira and Sehrunissa of preventing her from deposing earlier by forcing her to go to her maternal uncle's place in Chhotaudepur town in the district.

"Why did police not include my name in the list of witnesses while filing fir against 21 accused in the case?" she asked and said she was inside the bakery when 12 persons were torched alive on march 1, 2002. Yasmin Banu recently shifted to Best Bakery premises and was carrying out repair and renovations which the family has opposed and will approach court to seek a stay.

Bureau Report