THE family of hostage Paul Wells today faced an agonising wait after remains were found in a Kashmiri graveyard.

The remains were dug up after a cemetery grave was identified by captured militants four days ago at Akingham in Indian occupied Kashmir, 15 miles from Magam Rac, close to the site of the last dig for hostages' bodies.

Bob and Dianne Wells will now have to wait several weeks before forensic scientists in India identify the remains.

Photography student Paul 26, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn, was captured more than two years ago by Muslim militants along with fellow hostage Middlesbrough man Keith Mangan

The body took four days to be exhumed due to its delicate state and has now being flown from Delhi to Srinigar for forensic examinations.

James Bowman from the Hostages in Kashmir Campaign said: "There have been rumours that maybe this is the body of Paul Wells. At this point in time these are just rumours. "The body is strongly believed by police to be that of a Pakistan militant. I am led to believe the body was not buried according to Islamic burial. Until a full examination of the remains is undertaken we have no further information available."

The Foreign Office said: "We don't know whose body it is. One or two people have leaped to the conclusion that it is one of the hostages. We don't know that and there is some indication it may not be the hostages. The forensic examinations will produce results but this could take several weeks."

The spokesman said Kashmir and Jammu police believe the body is that of Pakistan militant Zia Udin who died in a fracas between Al Faran and Indian police.

Paul was captured along with German Dirk Hasert and American Donald Hutchings by Kashmiri militants calling themselves Al Faran while trekking in the Himalayas.

The Reverend John Cree, of Immanuel Church, Blackburn, said: "There have been many stories. Some are rumours, some seem to be more than this.

"We have had a situation like this before where a body was found and it turned out to be a false alarm."

He added: "We continue to pray for Paul and one day hope that he will return home safely.

"If he is dead, we pray that it may become clear to the family."

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