M A I N   N E W S

3 more bodies exhumed
Tribune News Service

CHOWGAM (Anantnag), April 7 — With the exhumation of three more bodies in this South Kashmir hamlet today, the process of exhumation of five bodies of those killed in Panchalthan-Pathribal “encounter” two weeks ago was completed this evening.

The orders to exhume the bodies were issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, on Wednesday following “pressure” and demonstrations by the public in the area, which also led to the killing of eight protesters at Brakpora on Monday last.

Tension gripped this hamlet late this evening as the residents of adjacent Brariangan and Uttarasoo villages demanded that the bodies be handed over to them for performing the last rites. Till last reports came in, clashes between the villagers and the police and authorities on the issue were going on. The Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Mr G.A. Peer, arrived on the spot around 5 pm, two hours after the exhumation started.

The relatives of Jumma Khan of Brariangan and Jumma Khan of the adjacent village identified the visibly charred bodies beyond recognition. One Jumma Khan, son of Fakirullah Khan was identified by his son, Abdul Rashid, and a nephew and agreed to by some other relatives who were brought to the graveyard in this hamlet. Shakoor Khan and his sister also identified their father, Jumma Khan, son of Amirullah Khan, from the ring he was wearing and also by the shoes he wore when was seen last. The graves of these two persons were here.

The police also exhumed the body of Mohammad Yusuf Malik, as identified by the relatives at an adjacent hamlet Sanglan, in the foothills.

Yesterday, the authorities in the presence of a number of relatives and villagers exhumed two bodies. One of them was identified as that of Bashir Ahmad Bhat, while another charred body was believed to be that of Zahoor Ahmad Dalal of Anantnag. The relatives of Zahoor Ahmad Dalal, who identified his clothes left with an exhumed body yesterday were not sure of the body.

While relatives of the killed persons have identified the bodies of their kin, the authorities here claim that they were not sure of the identifications. Samples were taken for the DNA tests, and things would be clear only after DNA tests are carried out, police and civil administration officers here said.

Meanwhile, the entire area was under curfew today as the authorities apprehended demonstrations in this regard today being a Friday. The Acchhabal and Shangus townships were kept under curfew in the wake of the rising public resentment. Anantnag town where the authorities gave a relaxation of six hours yesterday was not given any relaxation today.

Tension mounted following the carnage at Chatti Singhpora on March 20 last when some identified gunmen in Army fatigues shot dead 35 Sikhs. Later, the authorities claimed to have apprehended one Mohemmad Yaqoob Wagay allegedly involved in the massacre. It was after his disclosures, according to the authorities, that an encounter took place between the militants and the security forces at Panchaltha-Pathribal on the night of March 24 last. Meanwhile, public resentment mounted against the “disappearance” of about a dozen civilians who were missing after the massacre.

Demonstrations were held in Srinagar today in protest against the killings as the separatist APHC had called to offer prayers at the Jamia Masjid on Friday. The police resorted to a lathi charge and resorted to teargassing to quell the demonstrators.