2 more bodies of fake encounter victim's exhumed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 3 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir police today exhumed the bodies of two more victims of fake encounters at Ajas in north Kashmir district of Baramulla, for taking samples for DNA mapping.

Four police officials, including a Senior Superintendent of Police and a Deputy Superintendent of Police, have already been arrested in connection with the fake encounters.

The government has ordered a judicial probe into these killings.

The bodies were exhumed amid a massive protest against fake encounter killing by thousands of people who had gathered at the graveyard.

The victims, Showkat Ahmad Khatana, son of Noor Khatana, a resident of Banihal in Doda district of Jammu region and Ghulam Nabi, resident of Kokernag in south Kashmir, were reported missing after their arrest by the police from different areas.

Official sources said Khatana was killed by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police in the third week of October last year.

The bodies of both the victims were identified by their relatives immediately after they were exhumed at Ajas grave yard in the presence of experts and senior police officials.

With this, a total of four bodies have been exhumed by the police for taking samples for DNA mapping.

The official sources said two more bodies would be exhumed at Kangan later today or tomorrow.

Yesterday, the police exhumed the body of Nazir Ahmad Dagga son of Abdul Rehman Dagga, only brother of seven sisters, who was picked up by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the state police from Lal Chowk area on February 15, 2006, and later killed in Ganderbal area.

A resident of Kokernag in south Kashmir he was identified by his wife Tasleema and other family members.

On January 1, the police exhumed the body of Abdul Rehman Padder at Ganderbal, who was allegedly killed in a fake encounter, and took samples for DNA mapping.

Thousands of people had gathered near the graveyard demanding stern action against the police personnel responsible for these killings.

UNI