Srinagar, August 21 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, a prominent rights group has discovered several unmarked graves containing about 1,500 unidentified bodies in Kashmir valley. Members of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) said that at least eight of the graves had more than one body likely of the innocent people killed by Indian paramilitary forces.
"We've found that at least eight are mass graves as they contain more than one body," the APDP’s lawyer, Pervez Imroz told media men here.
"We have found more graves of about 1,500 people buried as unidentified persons in three remote districts during our ongoing survey," Pervez Imroz, said.
The latest report from the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore is part of the APDP's ongoing survey of the northern parts of the Kashmir valley. Last year, in a report titled, "Facts Under Ground", the APDP had reported discovery of unmarked graves of about 1,000 people near Uri in Baramulla district.
After that report, the Amnesty International had called for an independent probe into the unnamed graves. Ramesh Gopalakrishnan, a researcher from the London-based rights group's South Asia team, said there had been no responsible and serious response on the subject by either the Kashmir administration or Indian government. The European Union Parliament also passed a resolution asking India to investigate the matter but New Delhi is yet to pay heed to the appeal.
Human rights workers have been complaining for years that innocent people have disappeared in the occupied territory after being killed by government forces in staged gun battles, and suspected rebels have been arrested and never heard again. Rights groups say there have been an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 disappearances since 1989.
"We've found that at least eight are mass graves as they contain more than one body," the APDP’s lawyer, Pervez Imroz told media men here.
"We have found more graves of about 1,500 people buried as unidentified persons in three remote districts during our ongoing survey," Pervez Imroz, said.
The latest report from the districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipore is part of the APDP's ongoing survey of the northern parts of the Kashmir valley. Last year, in a report titled, "Facts Under Ground", the APDP had reported discovery of unmarked graves of about 1,000 people near Uri in Baramulla district.
After that report, the Amnesty International had called for an independent probe into the unnamed graves. Ramesh Gopalakrishnan, a researcher from the London-based rights group's South Asia team, said there had been no responsible and serious response on the subject by either the Kashmir administration or Indian government. The European Union Parliament also passed a resolution asking India to investigate the matter but New Delhi is yet to pay heed to the appeal.
Human rights workers have been complaining for years that innocent people have disappeared in the occupied territory after being killed by government forces in staged gun battles, and suspected rebels have been arrested and never heard again. Rights groups say there have been an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 disappearances since 1989.
Kashmir Media Servece
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