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Zaheera fails to appear before Godhra Commission

     Ahmedabad: Zaheera Sheikh, the prime witness in the Best Bakery case, today failed to appear before the Godhra inquiry Commission, which is probing the Sabarmati Express train carnage and post-Godhra riots. The commission consisting Justice (Retd.) G.T.Nanavati and Justice (Retd.) K.G.Shah, summoned Zaheera for cross-examination. However, she failed to turn up and filed an application seeking an extension. She filed the application through her advocate. Now, the Commission has fixed March 21 as the next date for her to appear. Another one, 'Sadhvi' Meenakshi Devi, who was summoned today Alongwith Zaheera also did not turn up. However, the later, deposed before the Commission yesterday. The Commission scheduled March 19 as the date for her cross- examination. It has been alleged, time and again, that Zaheera changed her statement twice after taking bribe. Zaheera's took a U-turn when she said that the fast-track court that acquitted all 21 accused for lack of evidence on June 27, 2003 had given her the justice she wanted. The prime witness in the best bakery case also alleged her lawyer, Teesta Setalvad of threatening her, and said that she made statements under Teesta's duress. She also alleged that Setalvad had held her captive and not allowed her to meet her family. She said she was made to sign legal papers and the matter was taken to the Supreme Court against her wishes. The case involved the gruesome killing of 14 people when the Best Bakery, in the Hanuman Tekri area of Vadodara, was attacked by a large mob.

Nine more rescued from Banihal (Go To Top)

     Srinagar: In all nine people, including six ITBP personnel, were rescued today from Jawahar Tunnel in Banihal area of Jammu and Kashmir. Official sources informed that besides the six ITBP jawans, three civilians, including one child, were among those rescued. The operations to retrieve bodies and rescue survivors have picked up momentum in avalanche-hit Jammu and Kashmir where the death toll mounted to 203. On Tuesday, 51 security personnel, who were trapped inside the Jawahar tunnel for more than a fortnight, were rescued from three-km long southern tube of Jawahar tunnel. It was a combined effort of Indo-Tibetan Border police and police personnel, who rescued the 51 security men out of 305 trapped inside the tunnel through ropes. The security personnel, over 305 from ITBP, IRP and police, were trapped for the last more than 15 days. Due to the heavy snowfall for the last few days, both ends of the tunnel were blocked. The recent spate of snowfall has turned the basic amenities into luxury for most of the residents here. They have been spending life under virtual house arrest since it started snowing in the Kashmir valley. The valley has been cut-off from the rest of the country for the last few days and the administration is planning to send essential supplies to Srinagar in special Air Force planes.

Karzai in India to boost bilateral ties (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President, is on a three-day visit to India for talks with leaders to further boost the bilateral ties. The visit of the Afghan President comes close to the trip to Kabul by External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh recently. Karzai will be accompanied by a high-power delegation comprising 11 cabinet ministers, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. During his visit to Kabul, Singh, on behalf of India, pledged to continue assistance to the war-ravaged nation in its rebuilding, including that of its Army, and offered to train its doctors and paramedics. During his stay in India, Karzai will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam, besides calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Natwar Singh and the Ministers for Defence, Civil Aviation and Information and Broadcasting. He will have extensive talks with these leaders. It is expected that developments in the region covering Indo-Pak relations, the Iraq situation and other issues of mutual interest will figure during the parleys.

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