Fresh unmarked graves found in held Kashmir: Report

Srinagar, Jan 23 : Two years after more than 2000 corpses buried in several unmarked graves were found in held Kashmir, a report by non-governmental organisation has claimed discovery of fresh unmarked graves from Chadoora tehsil of district Budgam.

 The report by ‘Voice of Victims’ claimed that more than 60 unmarked graves have been identified in the held Kashmir areas and peripheries of city including Nowgam, Wanabal, Shankerpora, Kenihama Chokpora, Kanipora Chokpora, Wagoora, Humhama and Pahroo.

 “Also areas where graves have been found include some close locales of Srinagar including Barzulla and Channapora,” said the report by NGO, which claimed to have undertaken a survey in December last.

 “As of now we have identified 50-60 unmarked graves in central Kashmir and peripheral areas of Srinagar,” said Abdul Rouf, coordinator of ‘Voice of Victims’.

 “We have started identifying the unmarked graves in the area having proper proof and after meeting people who have seen all this happen,” he added.

 “Although it is difficult to tell who are buried in these unmarked graves but one thing is certain—they were not air dropped. They are Kashmiris,” the coordinator said.

 “We need support of all those people who have lost their dear ones. We believe that many of the forced disappeared persons have been killed by forces here,” he said.

 Two years ago, the State Human Rights Commission found more than 2,000 corpses buried in several unmarked graves in held Kashmir.

The graves were found in dozens of villages near the Line of Control. “Almost 2,156 unidentified dead bodies are buried in unmarked graves at 38 places in north Kashmir," the inquiry report by the J&K State Human Rights Commission had revealed.


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