Wednesday, March 23 2005 09:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: During prolonged cross-examination, Bilkis Bano yesterday (Mar 22, 2005) faced a volley of questions from defence lawyers in a case regarding her alleged gang rape and the murder of her family members, but to most of these queries she told a special court in Mumbai that she was unable to recollect the events.

Bilkis was grilled by defence lawyers for the second day this week.

To a question, she said she did not know social activist Farah Naqvi.

Defence lawyer S K Jain said that to most of his questions, Bilkis replied, "I don't recollect."

When questioned about Naqvi, Bilkis said that she has not met Naqvi before or does not remember meeting her, said Jain.

However, when it was pointed out to her (Bilkis) that Naqvi was present at the press conference in Ahmedabad to announce the start of trial in Maharashtra, Bilkis said at that point she did not remember her (Naqvi's) name and does not remember knowing her personally, Jain said.

She said that one Mukhtar, social activist from Kalol, Gujarat, had made arrangements for the press conference.

When Jain asked her whether doctors visited the relief camp, Bilkis again replied saying "I don't recollect."

Jain said, "Even when I asked her about her Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court seeking trial in the case outside Gujarat, she said she was not aware about the documents attached with the SLP."

Jain alleged that Bilkis had approached the SC at the behest of the Muslim leaders in Gujarat.