Mumbai: Twelve accused in Bilkis Bano gang rape and murder case today (Dec 1, 2004) sought bail, even as the trial court deferred framing of charges against all the accused till December 8.

Framing of charges against the 20 accused was adjourned as prosecutor S K Shah was absent. The discharge application of co-accused Arun Kumar would also be heard on December 8.

Special judge U D Salvi ruled that he would first decide the bail and discharge petitions filed by accused and then frame charges against them.

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The court also deferred till December 8, an application filed by defence lawyer S Jain praying for handing over the charge of eyewitnesses to an independent agency and not to keep them under the care of social activists.

The accused are facing the charge of attacking a group of 17 members of the minority community in the aftermath of Godhra train carnage on March 3, 2002.

Earlier, the prosecution proposed charges against each accused describing the role played by them in attacking the group in Devgarh Baria village of Dahod district in Gujarat.

Of the 17 victims, eight were killed while six others were reported missing and three -- Bilkis Bano, Master Hussain and Sadaam -- survived the attack. The conspiracy was hatched between February 28, 2002 and March 3, 2002.

Of the 20 accused, 12 allegedly attacked the victims and gang raped six-month pregnant Bilkis Bano while sexually molesting her family members and assaulting them.