3 bodies exhumed, top cops arrested

The relatives present at the exhumation sites recognised the bodies as that of their lost ones. One among them is believed to be Ghulab Nabi Wani of Kokernag, who was killed on March 14, 2006. Wani was reportedly killed in a fake encounter by Ganderbal police and 13 RR. After he was picked up, they shot him dead and branded him a foreign militant. His wife was present at the exhumation site today and helped identify his body.

A kilometre away the police investigators and forensic team exhumed what is believed to be the body of Showkat Ahmed Khan, a resident of Dolipora Banihal. The former Imam may have been killed on October 5, 2006. Khan was identified by his father Noor Alam, who was present there. Ganderbal police and 13 RR are suspected to have had a hand in his killing as well. Khan had gone missing from Zadibal in downtown Srinagar during the night of October 4-5 last year.

The third body exhumed is suspected to be that of Ali Mohammad Padroo, a government employee missing since March 8 last year. Originally from Kokernag, his body was exhumed in Kangan in the presence of wife Shameema. He was reportedly killed in a fake encounter by Ganderbal Police and 24 RR.