Srinagar, July 28: In a blow to the separate inquiries into the Dastageer Sahab (RA) Shrine inferno and big embarrassment for Jammu and Kashmir Government, the officials of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) Srinagar have claimed that the crime scene in the incident was not preserved and “gutted material/ wires were removed” before the samples were taken for analysis. These assertions have been made by the officials of the FSL in a letter shot to the police after they raised certain queries on FSL report.
Highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir that In-Charge Chemistry and Toxicology (CNT), FSL Srinagar, Shakeel Ahmad Wani has claimed that the crime scene in the incident was disturbed before the collection of samples.
“It becomes imperative to collect the right sample from right spot and to achieve it the crime scene should have been properly preserved before the inspection of the experts. In this incident the crime scene was already disturbed and gutted material / wires removed from the scene,” the letter of FSL to Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Khanyar says.
The letter also addresses the other query raised by SIT.
According to the sources, SDPO Khanyar, who is heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the incident, had sought some clarifications on July 16 from the FSL. The move of the police to seek clarification came after the FSL report ruled out fire due to short circuit and use of any combustible substance.
The samples, according to sources, were collected on June 26, a day after the fire incident, by in-charge FSL mobile unit PCR Srinagar. Sources said that both Shakeel Ahmad and Assistant Scientific Officer (ASO) Abdul Gani have made the same depositions before Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Asgar Samoon.
According to sources, both told the inquiry officer on Friday that they failed to detect the cause of fire as the crime scene was not preserved, which was vital for proper scientific investigation.
Sources said that Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has taken strong note of “destruction of evidence” and has begun to look into the veracity of the claims made by FSL.
“The Divisional Commissioner has pulled up a top official of the State government for removing the debris and is investigating on whose orders the debris was removed by the said official,” they added.
When contacted, Deputy Director FSL J&K, Harnam Chand Baghat said that concerned expert has given reply to the queries raised by police.
According to the sources, if the claims made by FSL are genuine, it would be a big embarrassment for State government and it will also put a question mark on both the inquires conducted by civil administration and police.
Centuries old shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) popularly known as Gaus-ul-Azam Dastgeer Sahab (RA) was gutted in a mysterious fire on June 25 in Khanyar area of old Srinagar.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST