S I T UAT I O N I N G U JA R AT 3.26 It would, however, be appropriate to refer to the case of Bilkis Yakub Rasul, whom a team headed by its then Chairperson, Justice J.S. Verma, had met in the Iqbal Primary School Relief Camp in Godhra during the course of their visit to Gujarat from 19-22 March 2002. In the report of that visit, the Commission inter alia recorded: "Bilkis, about 25 years, of Mora village in Morva (H. Taluka) said that she was raped by a group of persons at village Randikapura in Limkheda Taluka of District Dahod. The D.M. informed that her complaint was recorded by the Executive Magistrate in which she named 12 persons. The F.I.R. was also registered and transferred to Limkheda police station for further action. In the F.I.R. she had mentioned only three names. Additional names mentioned before the Executive Magistrate are being intimated to the S.P. Dahod." 3.27 On 29 April 2003, Bilkis approached the Commission again, addressing a petition to it, in which she recounted her ordeal in detail, and stated that she had "recently come to know that the police had told the court that the real accused persons could not be traced and that is why the case cannot go ahead." She added, "I have further come to learn that the Court had approved the stand of the Police. All this was done without informing me of the developments at any stage. The police have not arrested the culprits although I have very clearly given their names with particulars in my complaint." In her petition to the Commission, Bilkis requested the Commission to take up her case so that justice may be done; she also requested that adequate security be provided to her as she feared a threat to her life. 3.28 Pursuant to this petition, Shri P.G.J. Nampoothiri, Special Rapporteur of the Commission in Gujarat informed the Commission that Bilkis wished to pursue the legal remedies in her case and wanted to file a case in the Supreme Court of India. It was further reported by him that she did not have the means to pursue the legal remedies and that she sought the help of the Commission to provide her legal assistance for pursuing her case in the Supreme Court. The Commission accordingly advised Shri Nampoothiri to contact the former Secretary, Supreme Court Bar Association, Shri Ashok Arora, for his advice. The Commission also indicated that it could offer financial/legal assistance to Bilkis for pursuing legal remedies. 3.29 On 25 August 2003, a Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 118 of 2003 was filed by Bilkis Yakub Rasool in the Supreme Court against the State of Gujarat with ANNUAL REPORT 2002-2003 ... ... 39 ... ... ..