Unmarked graves issue reaches J&K assembly

The battle for unraveling the truth behind unmarked graves has reached the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

Human rights groups have sought help from the legislators to unravel the truth behind the unmarked graves discovered recently in north Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPT) have issued a public appeal to the members of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly  urging them  rigorous, independent, and impartial investigation into the unmarked graves issue.

“We request for setting up of an Independent Commission of Inquiry co-chaired by two credible retired justices of the Supreme Court of India. Recognizing the urgent need for such a body, a timeframe must be set for its constitution” said Khurram Parvez, Liaison IPTK and Programme Coordinator, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

“We request that the Commission be assisted by a relevant panel of international experts on unknown and mass graves, including those with backgrounds in forensic and cultural anthropology and human rights law.

 An enquiry report of unmarked graves conducted by investigative wing of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) have detected that there are 2156 unidentified bodies buried in 38 graveyards across five districts of north Kashmir. This excludes 574 bodies that were buried as unidentified but later identified that those of locals. The enquiry has also found 18 such graves in which more than one body is buried. It has also detected 20 charred bodies and five bodies comprising only of skulls.

The appeal by the human rights groups comes just days after SHRC  sought matching of the DNA profiles with those of disappeared people and called on prosecution to bring justice the perpetrators of crime and  setting up an independent duly representative structured body having the credibility to look into the matters (of unmarked graves and disappeared people)

 “In Kashmir, from 1989-2011, the actions of the military and paramilitary have resulted in over 8,000 enforced disappearances and 70,000 deaths. Human rights violations in Kashmir are concomitant to the impunity of militarization and state violence, and the dangers militarism imposes on civil society. We caution that, without addressing these structural and prevalent conditions, justice and peace will remain elusive”, said Khurram

Main opposition PDP has already decided to raise the unmarked graves issue in the autumn session of assembly which started on Monday.

“The party would focus on the very serious revelations about thousands of unmarked graves in different areas of the state. The party would press the government for action on the four directions issued by SHRC on the subject. These include identification of the killed persons, payment of compensation to their families, prosecution of the guilty and creation of a mandatory body to take specific action on the whole issue”, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told reporters after chairing legislature party meeting a few days ago.