Journalism of Courage
Bones recovered from Lisad village in Muzaffarnagar during the communal riots last year are found to be those of human beings.
The test reports from the forensic sciences laboratory (FSL) have also confirmed that bones belong to at least three bodies which were set on fire after murder and the police later recovered the bones from the ashes at two different places in the village.
The police, however, have yet to find out the identity of these victims even though 11 persons belonging to Lisad village have not been traced so far.
Additional SP Manoj Kumar Jha, attached with Special Investigation Cell (SIC) which is investigating the cases related to the September, 2013 riots, said that the FSL report received recently has confirmed that the bones sent for examination are of human beings. But the FSL experts said the DNA profiling of these bones was not possible as it were badly burnt, added Jha.
An official said the FSL report would be included as an evidence before the court to establish that persons were killed and set on fire in Lisad village.
A week after the riots, a resident of Lisad village returned from the relief camp and found bones lying in the courtyard of his house. He informed the police and the bones were sent for forensic tests. The police had found bones from yet another place in the village.
Samples of clots of blood, found in another house, have also been sent for laboratory tests. This report is awaited.
Meanwhile, the family members of 11 persons who went missing from Lisad village after the riots had got FIRs registered against unidenifed assailants on charges of murder at Fugana police station. In the FIR, the families had alleged that assailants set them on fire after killing them. All missing persons are above 65 years.
