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Judicial remand of Bilqis Bano case accused extended
Ahmedabad, Feb 16: Judicial custody of all 13 accused in the Bilqis Bano case including a head constable was extended by 14 days here today.
Ahmedabad, Feb 16: Judicial custody of all 13 accused in the Bilqis Bano case including a head constable was extended by 14 days here today.
On March 3, 2002, fourteen persons were allegedly massacred by a mob of 500 people in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district in the post Godhra riots. The victims included women who were allegedly raped before being killed. Bilqis Bano, a family member, who too was gang raped but escaped being murdered, is the eye-witness to the gruesome massacre.
Limkheda police had failed to arrest any person in this connection following which Bano had petitioned the Supreme Court for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On the directions of the apex court, the CBI took over the investigations and, later, arrested thirteen people. Among those arrested is a police head constable who had been attached to the Limkheda police at the time of the massacre. The policeman was arrested for allegedly tampering with the evidence.
The CBI had also recently undertaken excavation work in Limkheda to dig out mortal remains of the victims as the Limkheda police had, contrary to Bilqis Bano's allegations, registered only seven deaths while seven others were shown as missing. The CBI had managed to dig out the skeletal remains of four persons, including that of a child. However, it is yet to be ascertained whether the skeletal remains have any connection with the Limkheda massacre.
Three other police officers, including a sub-inspector and two Assistant Commissioners of Police, had subsequently moved the court or anticipatory bail fearing arrest by the CBI. Their plea was turned down. However, they have not been arrested by the CBI so far.
Meanwhile, the CBI had moved an application before the court seeking permission to conduct lie-detector and other scientific tests on the arrested accused. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on February 20.
Bureau Report
Limkheda police had failed to arrest any person in this connection following which Bano had petitioned the Supreme Court for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On the directions of the apex court, the CBI took over the investigations and, later, arrested thirteen people. Among those arrested is a police head constable who had been attached to the Limkheda police at the time of the massacre. The policeman was arrested for allegedly tampering with the evidence.
The CBI had also recently undertaken excavation work in Limkheda to dig out mortal remains of the victims as the Limkheda police had, contrary to Bilqis Bano's allegations, registered only seven deaths while seven others were shown as missing. The CBI had managed to dig out the skeletal remains of four persons, including that of a child. However, it is yet to be ascertained whether the skeletal remains have any connection with the Limkheda massacre.
Three other police officers, including a sub-inspector and two Assistant Commissioners of Police, had subsequently moved the court or anticipatory bail fearing arrest by the CBI. Their plea was turned down. However, they have not been arrested by the CBI so far.
Meanwhile, the CBI had moved an application before the court seeking permission to conduct lie-detector and other scientific tests on the arrested accused. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on February 20.
Bureau Report