Now for the final test...

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

The two Scotland Yard experts who reached Srinagar to help Indian authorities identify whether an exhumed skeleton belonged to any of the Al-Faran hostages has been joined by three experts from the United States and Germany.

Contrary to the Indian authorities' claim, the British sleuths's investigation had revealed the remains were not of Paul Wells (one of the abducted Britons).

"However, to be absolutely sure, samples have been sent for advanced DNA tests," said Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Gurbachan Jagat, "The tests will be conducted jointly by the forensic medicine department and the Scotland Yard team."

In their preliminary examination, the Scotland Yard officers had found that none of of the hostages's dental records matched that of the skeleton. Wells's records, for instance, showed a missing 7th molar and filling in 5th and 6th molars.

The locals of Akingam -- from where the body was exhumed -- had all along maintained it belonged to a foreign mercenary, Jalal ud Din alias Zia-Ud-Din.

"The militant's post-mortem report states there were four bullet wounds on his chest," Jagat said, "The examination of the remains do not reveal any wounds. That is why we want advanced tests to be conducted."