Ahmedabad: CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) officials today (Jan 22, 2004) arrested 11 persons from Limkheda taluka of Dahod district of Gujarat in connection with the alleged Bilkis Bano gang rape case during the post-Godhra communal riots, police said.

Special crime investigating team from CBI, Delhi made the arrests in the wee hours and the accused persons would be produced before a magistrate at Dahod district, CBI officials said.

The alleged gang rape of three women of minority community and the massacre of seven villagers on March 3, 2002 was brought to light by a key eyewitness Bilkis Bano.

Bilkis Bano, a resident of Limkheda taluka, was on the run from a mob of 500 persons and was cornered near Chapparwad village near Randhikpur.

She had alleged that the mob began slaughtering people and also gang raped at least three women while she was spared after she told the assailants that she was pregnant.