July 8, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 7,1424

BOMBAY, July 7: A key witness to the Gujarat riots on Monday said she had been under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders when she had retracted her court statement last week during the trial of 21 Hindus accused of killing Muslims last year.

Zaheera Sheikh, 19, said that she had lied in court following threats from local BJP leaders. All of the defendants were subsequently acquitted, but she is demanding a new trial.

“I want to reopen the case and want justice for myself and my family members who were burnt to death during the riots on March 1, 2002,” Ms Sheikh told journalists here.

“I want a fresh trial ... in Bombay as I do not trust the local Gujarat law and order system.”

Ms Sheikh said: “I was threatened with death in the court itself by BJP leader Madhukar Shrivastav,” she alleged. “I had no choice but to lie. But now I have realised that I should get justice because my integrity is being questioned by people.”

She said on March 1, 2002, a large group of Hindu men she knew attacked the Best Bakery, burning alive her relatives and friends.—AFP