Court asks to exhume Shopian victims' bodies

Jammu : Shopian continues to be on the boil. More than a month after two women were allegedly raped and killed, the Special Investigation Team has so far found no clue that could help crack the case.

The Judicial Commission in its initial report had pointed out lapses by the police and the administration that led to loss of vital evidence. Now, the high court has stepped in and issued a series of strict measures.

It has asked the state government to exhume the bodies of Nilofer and Asya, who were allegedly raped and killed. A fresh post mortem will be done by a team nominated by the Principal of Srinagar's Government Medical College. The court has also directed that no one, including the CRPF and police personnel can leave Shopian without permission of the SIT.

Moreover, the court has ordered mobile service providers to give full co-operation about the call details made from the spot where the bodies were found.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the move saying it would help calm tempers.

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"Any move that will help establish the facts in this case and help us understand what happened will go a long way towards addressing the anger that people felt. Their anger was on the fact that they were under the impression that some effort is going to be made to cover it up," he said.

The Court directions have come as a reprieve for the government as it will give more time to it to identify and prosecute the culprits.

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