Date:19/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/19/stories/2004101903251200.htm

National

Best Bakery case: `DNA tests could not be done'

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, Oct, 18. The Special public prosecutor, Ms. Manjula Rao, today told the sessions court that DNA tests could not be conducted on some bones found at the site of the Best Bakery carnage in Baroda, as they were badly burnt.

According to the prosecution, the bones may have belonged to two people who were working at the Bakery and who are missing.

However, the DNA tests could be not done on the bones and compared with the blood samples of the relatives of the two missing persons, to establish their identity. The badly charred bones are evidence of the extent to which the Bakery was burnt by the mob, according to Ms. Rao.

Tomorrow, forensic laboratory officials and doctors who did the tests will depose in the re-trial which was transferred to Mumbai by the Supreme Court. So far 18 witnesses have been examined.

Today, police and hospital staff who handled the victims in the case deposed before the court.

Fourteen persons including women and children were burnt to death at the premises of the Best Bakery in the aftermath of the riots after the train burning incident at Godhra.