Thursday, June 2 2005 22:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: An important witness in the Best Bakery case today (Jun 2, 2005) dwelt upon the rescue operations conducted by police soon after the Bakery was set afire by a violent crowd on March 1, 2002.

Investigating officer (IO) Deputy Commissioner of police P P Kanani deposed before the special judge Abhay Thipsay but his examination was inconclusive and would continue tomorrow (Jun 3, 2005).

Kanani was asked about the riots, which had taken place in Gujarat and about the various statements recorded by the police in this connection.

Further, he was examined about the various searches conducted by police after the bakery was torched by rioters and also about the manner in which the accused were arrested after the riots.

Earlier, the prosecution had examined another investigating officer police inspector H G Baria. Thereafter the prosecution had re-called the prime witness Zaheera Sheikh, her mother and brothers.

The special court here is conducting the re-trial in the case following the Supreme Court directive to hold it in Maharashtra. Fourteen persons were killed in the attack on the Best Bakery at Vadodara on March 1, 2002 during the Gujarat riots.