Saturday, December 25 2004 20:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Siddhartnagar (UP): Zareena Shahu, the maternal grandmother of key witness in the Best Bakery case, Zaheera Sheikh today (Dec 25, 2004) expressed surprise on her grand daughter allegedly compromising with the killers of her blood relatives 'in exchange for hefty sums'.

"Zaheera's sister and maternal uncle were among those killed and it is not right to forget the blood relations for money," Zareena said and expressed grief over the reports of Zaheera turning hostile after allegedly receiving money.

Zareena, who witnessed the incident from the terrace of her house on March 1, 2002, said Zaheera recognised all the accused persons as they were her neighbours.

She said lack of security might be one of the reasons for Zaheera going back on her statements in the court.

Zareena said there should be no mercy and the accused should be punished. She, however, regretted that had Zaheera alerted those present in the bakery when it was put on fire, some of them could have managed to save their lives.

She said that all attempts to reach the police proved futile as the phone calls made to the police station on the fateful night were not answered.

I was brought down the next day by the police but my statement was not recorded, she said adding that she was kept at the house of one Iqbal Seth for three months after the incident.