SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the deputy commissioners of Poonch and Rajouri to file before the next date of hearing their final report on the unmarked graves in their respective districts.
The direction was issued by a division bench of the Commission comprising retired Justice Javed Kavoosa and Justice Rafiq Fida on a petition filed by several human rights activists, including Advocate Parvez Imroz, Angana Chatterjee, Gautam Navlakha, Zahir-ud-din and Khurram Parvez, seeking investigation into the existence of unmarked graves to bring forth the truth lying buried in them.
Pertinently, hundreds of unmarked graves have been discovered in various parts of Kashmir. The activists had sought investigation into similar graves found in the border districts of Jammu region on the same pattern as those in Kashmir. They have stated that 2,717 persons were buried in 90 graveyards in Poonch district while 1,127 persons were lying in 118 graveyards in Rajouri district.
Earlier, the SHRC had sought reports from the state government and the director-general of police besides the respective deputy commissioners about unmarked graves in Poonch and Rajouri. The state government had told the Commission the report could not be filed due to the budget session and move of offices.
Pertinently, confirming the existence of unmarked graves in various parts of Kashmir, the SHRC had made a 6-point recommendation to the state government, including DNA tests of those buried in these. (KNS)
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