Wullar boat capsize hearing tomorrow

Srinagar, July 5 (UNI) The Navy and the Burning Candle School management will tomorrow file their statements before the Inquiry Commission probing the boat accident in Wullar Lake of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on May 30 in which 22 students drowned.

The Commission was to hear both the sides today, but the hearing was postponed for tomorrow in view of a holiday.

District and Sessions Judge Syed Tariq Ahmed Naqshbandi, who was appointed as the inquiry officer into the incident by the state government on June 8, granted time till July 5 to the Indian Navy and the management of the Burning Candle School, Handwara to file their statements of defence before it on the Wullar tragedy.

The Indian Navy was being represented by Lt Col Rajeev Sharma.

The Judge had asked the Indian Navy, the Burning Candle School Principal and two others to file their statements of defence on affidavits, documents and evidence, if any, to the court of inquiry on the next date of hearing on July 5.

Col Sharma submitted before the court that a Court of Inquiry, under the Army Act, regarding the incident had already been constituted and that the investigations were in progress.

Col Sharma said he was not aware under what act the Court of Inquiry had been instituted by the state government and sought time to engage a counsel from outside the state.

The Judge provided a copy of the state government order announcing setting up of a judicial commission to probe the causes and circumstances leading to the boat capsize in Wullar Lake.

The proceedings were being held at the Dak Bungalow in Sopore.

UNI AG VD ND1802