Uttar Pradesh: Over 100 bodies buried? Rights body team searches Ballia house

VARANASI: The arrival of a posse of vehicles disturbed the tranquility of Ratsar, a small village under Gadwar police station of Ballia district, on Friday morning.
Apart from cops, the entourage also had a team from the State Human Rights Commission, a dog squad and forensic experts.
The 'surprise guests' stopped at the house of Annu Singh. Their motive left the villagers stunned. They had come to verify a complaint filed by an Indian resident based in Canada that over 100 bodies were buried in the compound of the house. The complainant Shalini Singh, who accompanied the team, claimed to be a relative of Annu Singh, which the latter denies.
The team searched extensively despite resistance from its residents, but no evidence, which could have corroborated the complaint, was found.
According to reports, Shalini Singh made a complaint to the SHRC that 100 bodies were buried in the house of her maternal relative, late Dharmatma Singh. According to the complainant, the bodies were buried between 1990 and 1995. Now, trees have been planted at the place where the bodies have been buried, the complaint said.
On the order of the SHRC, the investigation team reached the village and examined the house and garden of Dharmatma Singh, but no evidence was found. In view of the allegations, the investigation team continued the search throughout the day to gather evidence. During the search, the investigation team faced opposition from Dharmatma Singh’s heir Annu Singh.
Annu Singh said that it was not an appropriate way for the SHRC and the police team to reach the house and investigate without giving any notice. She said that she did not even know the complainant Shalini Singh.
“According to her (Shalini Singh) she is my stepsister’s daughter, which is not correct. We also talked to the SHRC team about Shalini, but they couldn't come out with a satisfactory reply,” said Annu Singh, adding, “After searching all day, nothing was found. The complainant Shalini Singh had covered her face. I tried a lot but she was not ready to show her face.”
An official of ASP-rank of the investigation team, Amit Mishra, said that the investigation was done on the orders of the SHRC. The report will be submitted to the commission soon.