Central forensic team to conduct DNA test of Kashmiri carpenter

Srinagar, Jan 30 (UNI) The Centre would soon depute a high-level team of forensic experts to Kashmir to conduct the DNA mapping of a carpenter, allegedly killed by police in a fake encounter in Ganderbal area recently.

Talking to UNI, Deputy Inspector General of Police Farooq Ahmed, said they have requested the Union Home Ministry to constitute a high-level team of forensic experts for conducting the DNA mapping of Abdul Rehman Padder, a resident of Larnoo in Kokernag area of Anantnag district, who was allegedly killed in the fake encounter.

Mr Ahmed, who is supervising the Special Investigation Team probing the case, said Padder's body would be exhumed only after the forensic experts arrived here. Police have already identified Padder's grave in Ganderbal area and placed it under tight security to prevent tampering of evidence.

Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Khan has ordered exhumation of Padder's body and for conducting the DNA test.

He said they want to conduct the investigations in a ''fair and transparent'' manner so that the truth comes out.

The DIG said the team was likely to comprise experts from either the Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSL) Kolkata or the CFSL Chandigarh. ''The Centre has agreed and accepted our request and is likely to send the team here in a day or two,'' he added.

Mr Ahmed said Padder's body would be exhumed in the presence of the central forensic experts, the magistrate, the health officer, civil and police officials, witnesses and family members.

''We want to be careful while exhuming the body so that the evidence remains intact. It is very important for us to identify the body. There is all possibility that putrefaction would have taken place and the face may be beyond recognition due to bullet injuries.

The body can be identified by clothes or some marks,'' he added.

The DIG said it was necessary to have scientific evidence for making a significant headway in the case. ''We have already got the scientic evidence through mobile phone,'' he added.

Mr Ahmed said the investigating team, headed by Superintendent of Police (South) Uttam Chand, has sought the cooperation of Padder's family members in getting to the bottom of the case.

He asserted that whosoever found involved in the ''fake encounter'' would not be spared. ''Whosever found guilty will be arrested and punished. We have already attached two senior police officers and arrested our two men,'' Mr Ahmed added.

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