Srinagar: Bodies of the two south Kashmir Shopian rape and murder victims were exhumed Monday for conduct of the forensic tests and collection of samples by a high profile team of specialists from New Delhi.
The team comprising doctors from country’s super speciality, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and forensic experts had been specially flown in by India’s premier investigating agency, CBI to Srinagar for the purpose.
The team had brought along portable machines to conduct autopsy of the bodies on the spot and collect necessary samples for ‘recreation of the forensic evidence’.
Before the exhumation, the team had put in place the machinery and the equipment for the job and had erected a tent in the midst of the sprawling graveyard which had been put under a heavy security cordon.
The exhumation began with the body of 17-year old Asiya Jan being taken out from her grave in presence of her relatives, a magistrate and other officials followed by the body of 22-year old Neelofar Jan.
The bodies were re-buried eight hours after their exhumation by the relatives in the evening.
The need for exhumation of the bodies arose to collect fresh samples for completion of the investigation of the crime now being handled by the CBI.
The agency took over the case after the special investigation team (SIT) of the state police failed to crack the case in three months time with mounting public pressure forcing the coalition government to hand over the case to CBI for results.
Shopian town, 65 km from capital Srinagar observed a shut down on Monday with a large number of locals watching the exhumation and reburial process from a distance.
