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Journalism of Courage
An expert panel from the Baroda Medical College has confirmed that the bones recovered from an oven at Best Bakery are those of humans. The scientific confirmation brings to light the gory death that two residents of Best Bakery met with on March 1.
The two residents had gone missing when most of the city was burning. The bones taken from the oven were sent to the medical college for examination.
A total of 14 persons were reportedly killed at Best Bakery on March 1. While 12 bodies were identified, two others reported to have been killed could not be found anywhere.
Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) Inspector P.P. Kanani said the missing persons were Kausar Shah Mohammed Shaikh and Arshad alias Lullo Haroon Shaikh. Both were key witness Zahirah’s relatives.
Kanani added that DNA tests will confirm whose bones these were. He said he had already asked the missing persons’ relatives for blood samples for the confirmatory DNA test.
According to Kanani, the mob had injured Zahirah, her mother Sehrunnisa, her sister and two brothers and were about to set them ablaze as well, but police arrived on time to rescue them. Investigations have revealed that one Santosh Thakkar — mentioned by Zahirah as an accused — had made a call from his mobile phone to Congress councillor Chandrakant Srivastava who, in turn, asked the Panigate police inspector to help save the victims in the bakery.
Details of the calls made from the two mobile phones show that these were made around 10.30 am on March 1, about the same time Zahirah and her family were rescued by the police.
