Human rights body demands probe on Kashmir mass graves

Medicinal Plants/seed for sale

Srinagar: September 16: Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Commission (JKHRC) today recommended investigation by an independent "representative structured" body empowered to probe all aspects of unmarked graves in the Valley.

"An independent duly representative structured body having due credibility and weight, fully empowered to go in (to) all questions (and) aspects regarding unmarked graves, disappeared persons ... be constituted and put in place in time," a division bench of the JKHRC said.

The bench, comprising Chairperson Justice (retd) Syed Bashiruddin Ahmad and Member Javaid A Kawoos, in its six-point recommendation sought DNA profiling of the bodies in the unmarked graves in a cluster of villages at various places in north Kashmir's Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts.

The investigative wing of the JKHRC, on the instructions of the bench, had earlier reported that more than 2,000 unmarked graves existed "beyond doubt" at 38 sites across north Kashmir.

"The bodies in unmarked graves...shall be identified by all available means and techniques like DNA profile, physical description, dental examination, distinctive medical characteristics, finger prints, carbon dating and forensic pathology (as may be applicable), so that even the identity of dead, in these unmarked graves is possible with the claimed disappeared persons," the bench said.

The bench also recommended prosecution of those found involved in the perpetration of "crime" including culpable homicide.

Meanwhile, the JKHRC took cognisance of an application filed by Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), which claimed existence of over 3,844 unmarked graves at 208 sites in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region   
     

Human rights group makes startling disclosures on unmarked graves

Rameez Makhdoomi/Ajaz Ahmad War/Sheikh Gulzaar

Srinagar : In a startling disclosure made by the International Forum for Justice/Human Rights Forum J&K, Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, Chairman, with reference to letter written to JK Human Rights Commission has disclosed with list that the Police Investigation Wing of Jammu and Kashmir  Human Rights Commission (JKHRC) has only visited 38 graveyards across north Kashmir and found 2730 graves, out of which 2156 are still unidentified. But the fact of the matter according to this forum is that in Lolab area alone there are more than 38 graveyards which have unmarked graves and mass graves.

Another startling disclosure made by the International Forum for justice/ Human Rights Forum J&K is that the security agencies in the last 22 years have been responsible for killing many civilians in fake encounters. In Devar village of Lolab area, the said human rights forum states that they have documented 37 cases of fake encounter killings, where according to International forum for justice human rights j&k ,33 local civilians were killed in fake encounters and branded as foreign militants. Also 4 local Kashmiri militants from Devar have been killed in fake encounters and branded as foreign militant.

Another ground breaking disclosure made by this human rights group is that amongst the victims of fake encounter killings one of the striking cases is of Kareem War (65) S/O Aziz War R/O Dilbagh, Devar, Lolab, who was killed in a fake encounter by 18 Rashtriya Rifles (8 Sector – Cherkoot) and Special Operations Group of J&K Police and was branded as Afghani militant. Shockingly, three of his sons Baktiyar War (24), Mohammad Shareif War (21), Lateef Ahmed War (27) were also killed by the same agencies. Mohammad Shareif War was branded as Bangladeshi militant, Lateef War was branded as Pakistani militant and Baktiyar War was claimed as unidentified militant. Four members of this family have been killed in fake encounters and branded as nationals of 3 different countries. The father and his three sons who have been killed in the fake encounters, is not the only injustice which has happened to the family, but Kareem War’s other son Sharief ud Din War was disappeared by army in 1998. According to International forum for justice human rights forum J&K,the family members of Kareem War are still awaiting justice, even after truth has been established according to the information gathered by International Forum for justice human rights J&K.

The revelations made by this human rights group certainly are quiet sensational and will demand answers from those who are at helm of affairs.