Wednesday, September 21 2005 16:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Army today (Sept 21, 2005) began a probe into allegations that four porters had been killed in Lolab valley in Kashmir last year in a fake encounter and asked the family members of the said porters to report for the identification parade.

"We have started probe into it. We have asked a member of each of porter's family to be ready for journey to Kupwara border district of North Kashmir, where identification of dead militants would take place soon", Defence sources said.

Army authorities had written to the Jammu Deputy Commissioner in this connection and the family members of the porters are to leave for Kupwara in an army convoy tomorrow, they said.

The bodies would be exhumed and identification parade carried before the family members of the porters, they said adding that DNA tests would also be carried, if required.

The former Chief of Northern Command Lt Gen Hari Prasad had on August 29 ordered the probe into the allegations after the families of the porters received letters purportedly written by a soldier informing them that they had been killed in a 'staged encounter' only for gallantry recognition.

"Anyone found at fault will seriously be dealt with. We will do inquiry as fast as possible. If we find anything against anybody appropriate action would taken accordingly", he had said.