Srinagar, September 28
Four months after their death, the bodies of Neelofar and Asiya were exhumed by a team of the CBI at Shopian town today.
The exercise has been undertaken to get samples for further investigations to unravel the mystery behind the murder case. Exhumation was delayed by one day as the team of experts could not arrive here from New Delhi on Saturday due to strike by AI pilots.
A team of 13 members, including doctors from AIIMS and forensic experts, which arrived here yesterday, reached Shopian later in the day to undertake the process this morning.
After seeking permission from the District Magistrate concerned, the CBI undertook the exercise that took around eight hours. The exhumation and taking out of samples under adequate security cover was held in the presence of District Magistrate Abdul Majeed Khanday, police officers, four family members of Asiya and Neelofar, and members of the Majlis-e-Mushawarat, which had been spearheading the agitation for identification and immediate action against the culprits. Mediapersons were, however, not allowed to go there.
Adequate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the proceedings were made in and around the area. Traffic around the graveyard was diverted so as to avoid any congestion in the vicinity and allow the teams to conduct the process in a proper atmosphere, said Syed Shabir Gilani, Additional SP, Shopian.
The CBI took over the case recently after a direction from the government on September 15. Its special
team reached Srinagar two days later. The incident of the alleged rape and murder of Neelofar and Asiya had led to widespread demonstrations demanding identification and prosecution of the culprits. Shopian town observed a complete shutdown for 47 days after the bodies were recovered on May 30.
The state government had appointed a one-man commission of Justice Muzaffar Jan (retd) to probe the incident. The commission submitted its report within one month.
The government, however, later constituted a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of the Inspector-General, Kashmir range. However, that investigation remained incomplete.
