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Severe punishment for fudging DNA samples

By Luv Puri

Jammu July 23. The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet today accepted the report of a three-member Cabinet sub-committee recommending severe punishment for three policemen and two doctors for fudging the DNA samples of five innocent civilians killed by security forces in March 2000. The security forces had claimed that the five were militants involved in the killing of 35 Sikhs in the Chattisinghpora massacre the same year.

After an outcry by the locals who said innocents were killed, the State Government sent the DNA samples of the bodies for testing. But following reports in early 2002 that the samples were fudged by police officials with the connivance of doctors, the former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, announced an enquiry and fresh DNA samples were sent for testing. The subsequent report proved that the five civilians were innocent.

The Cabinet decided to place under suspension Farooq Khan, IPS, and the then SSP Anantnag and present SSP, SB, Jammu, to facilitate his prosecution. The Cabinet also decided to remove from service Bashir Ahmed, the then ASI, besides launching prosecution against him. Another officer, Abdul Rehman, then DSP, has been ordered to be censured.

The Cabinet found the team of doctors led by Balbir Kour to be negligent in their conduct. The Cabinet conveyed strong displeasure to B.A.Runiyal, the then Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, for his refusal to cooperate with the Inquiry Commission.

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