Taking a suo motu cognisance of the Sunday Times report published in The Indian Express from London, Commission chairman Justice P C Balakrishnan Menon today issued a notice to the Kullu SP and asked him to file a factual report within a fortnight. ``We will try to get some clues and initiate follow-up action on receipt of the report,'' Justice Menon told The Indian Express.

The Commission met to discuss the matter and resolved to seek a report from the police to corroborate facts. Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) N C Joshi, who attended the meeting, informed the Commission about the steps initiated by the police in this regard.

Joshi had yesterday ordered Kullu SP tohold an inquiry into the facts stated in the report, including the allegation that bodies of foreigners were cremated without informing missions of their respective countries in Delhi. When contacted, Joshi said that it would take a few days to submit the report. But he denied the reported ``pact of silence'' between the ganja growers and the police in the area.

According to the police, the missing persons include Ian Mogford, son of Frank Mogford, a Royal Air Force Wing Commander and Ardavan, son of Homa Boustani - both quoted by the newspaper. The others include two Irish nationals, Canadians, an Israeli national and an Australian. ``Probe into the disappearances is being carried out intensely. There is no question of any laxity,'' said Zaidi. He confirmed that Homa Boustani, whose son Ardavan was missing, had visited him along with a foreign mediaperson who had been informed about the progress in the investigations.

Regarding the alleged cremation of the bodies without informing foreign missions, Zaidisaid it was just not possible. Foreign missions were always kept informed about any incident involving foreigners.

Inquiries made by ENS from locals in Kullu reveal that cultivation of cannibis (bhang) had been on the rise in the interior and inaccessible areas of Kullu as well as in the Parbati and Banjar valleys. Of late, some farmers had started commercial cultivation of cannibis as it promised high returns. The trade has been flourishing, thanks to the foreigners who come to Kullu as tourists or trekkers and stay on for a long time either after getting married to locals or getting their visas extended on one pretext or the other, say locals.

At least three foreign nationals have been lodged in the Kullu jail on the charges of drug smuggling or of being in possession of narcotics. Only last month, the Kullu district police completed a massive operation to destroy cannibis fields and nabbed six foreigners. ``I have given directions to the police in Shimla, Mandi and Chamba also to launch similardrives to destroy the fields of cannibis,'' Joshi told