What's new

The mystery surrounding Kashmir's graves

fd24

SENIOR MEMBER
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Messages
5,864
Reaction score
0
Ata Mohammad Khan squints in the harsh midday sun as he points out mounds of earth on a stretch of land by the side of a river. Each one of them is a grave that he says he was made to dig by the police.
Mr Khan is a grave digger in the village of Binyar, in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir, close to the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
His graveyard is one of several sites that are now in the spotlight, after a report by the State Human Rights Commission on the existence of nearly 6,000 bodies in unmarked graves in north Kashmir.
It is the first time a government body has acknowledged what many Kashmiris have been saying for years.
"The police used to bring the bodies, mostly at night," Ata Mohammad Khan says.
"Many of the bodies were covered in blood, they had bullet holes, some had broken legs. It's hard to describe, these were not normal deaths."

His testimony is one of several that is now in the Commission's report which has been compiled by civil rights campaigners.
"We made public announcements saying that if there were any unmarked graves people should contact us," says Khurram Parvez of the Coalition of Civil Society.
"We went to different districts, meeting police, grave diggers, community elders and documented the evidence that we have produced."
Maisuma is in the heart of Srinagar, once a volatile neighbourhood that was a major stronghold of the Kashmiri separatists.
At the height of the movement the security forces would conduct raids here, picking up anyone suspected of being a militant.
The family of Syed Anwar Shah live in a dilapidated old building, squeezed into a tiny room.
His mother weeps as she tells me how he disappeared 11 years ago.
"He left for work that day, I had packed his lunch. The security forces picked him off the street. We didn't even realise what happened.
"I've looked everywhere for him but I haven't found him."

Over the past 20 years, thousands of Kashmiris have gone missing - many after allegedly being picked up by the security forces.
A member of the Association of Parents of Disappeared People (APDP) attend a protest rally to demand information of the whereabouts of missing relatives in Srinagar. The potent issue of missing people in Kashmir has sparked demonstrations

Now the fear is that some of them may actually have been killed and buried in the unmarked graves.
"Our children were picked up by the army, the police, the special forces. Ask them where they are, ask them what happened to them," says Parveena Ahangar, who leads the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons.

But the chief minister of Indian-administered Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, says it's unlikely that civilians ended up in the unmarked graves.
"We have evidence documenting the circumstances under which they died. They were militants from various parts of the world who were killed either while infiltrating or in encounters."
But bowing to public pressure, the government has ordered an investigation to try and determine who is buried in the graves.
Not many in Kashmir are confident of the outcome.
"The same people who are responsible for the unmarked graves are being entrusted with carrying out an investigation," says hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

"That's why we are asking the United Nations to set up War Crimes Tribunal to investigate this matter."
Whatever happens, the issue has ignited a fresh debate over India's conduct in Kashmir, a conflict zone that is still heavily militarised and in which more than 60,000 people have died in the past two decades.

I pray that they find the culprits of these vicious crimes.
 
.
They were militants from various parts of the world who were killed either while infiltrating or in encounters."
 
.
Paid propaganda by separatists . Just two days back there was reports of a Gunbattle between security forces and militants --militants were speaking in Pashto .
 
.
Paid propaganda by separatists . Just two days back there was reports of a Gunbattle between security forces and militants --militants were speaking in Pashto .

Then an investigation would be welcomed with open arms from BOTH sides? I think whoever is responsible should be brought to justice doesnt matter where they are from. It is a tragedy that so many have suffered the loss of loved ones
 
.
Then an investigation would be welcomed with open arms from BOTH sides? I think whoever is responsible it is a tragedy that so many have suffered the loss of loved ones


They are doing the investigation and will collect DNA samples from the bodies
 
.
its a mass violation of human rights ....... the criminals who involved must brought to justice.
Indian Atrocities in Kashmir is not a new thing but now these graves proved it again that Indian army is involved in killings of thousands of kashmiris
 
.
Then an investigation would be welcomed with open arms from BOTH sides? I think whoever is responsible it is a tragedy that so many have suffered the loss of loved ones

There already has been several investigations -- Omar Abdullah Govt reopened several cases , set up several committee's .

Take the Neelofer Jan , Aasiya jan case for example . The moment they were discovered dead and mutilated, separatists started a propaganda --That they had been raped by Security forces. Even the intial Autopsy conducted by the local doctor was falsified to show traces of Semen .

Then the central Govt set up a team of Doctors from AIIMs and under the eyes of Amnesty and all other Human rights organizations conducted the Autopsy again and it was proved conclusively that allegations of Rape were false.
Then the police reinvestigated and it was discovered that they were killed due to a family dispute by a family member.

Repealing of the AFSPA , investigating abuses etc are appropriate but what about continued infiltration from across the border ?

The armed forces cannot lower their vigilance while cross-border infiltration of extremists continue .
 
.
While the government goes about trying to silence the living, the dead have begun to speak up. Perhaps it was insensitive of Barsamian to plan a trip to Kashmir just when the state human rights commission was finally shamed into officially acknowledging the existence of 2,700 unmarked graves from three districts in Kashmir. Reports of thousands of other graves are pouring in from other districts. Perhaps it is insensitive of the unmarked graves to embarrass the government of India just when India's record is due for review before the UN human rights council.

The dead begin to speak up in India | Arundhati Roy | Comment is free | The Guardian
 
.
There already has been several investigations -- Omar Abdullah Govt reopened several cases , set up several committee's .

Take the Neelofer Jan , Aasiya jan case for example . The moment they were discovered dead and mutilated, separatists started a propaganda --That they had been raped by Security forces. Even the intial Autopsy conducted by the local doctor was falsified to show traces of Semen .

Then the central Govt set up a team of Doctors from AIIMs and under the eyes of Amnesty and all other Human rights organizations conducted the Autopsy again and it was proved conclusively that allegations of Rape were false.
Then the police re investigated and it was discovered that they were killed due to a family dispute by a family member.

Repealing of the AFSPA , investigating abuses etc are appropriate but what about continued infiltration from across the border ?

The armed forces cannot lower their vigilance while cross-border infiltration of extremists continue .

There is tremendous distrust on both sides. An independent investigation would be the right way forward and encouraged by both sides. If it results in finding the dogs that have committed these crimes then all should assist in an external body carrying out a full investigation.
Your insinuation in your previous post regarding pashto shows how "independent" your feelings are in this matter. The source i am sure that you got that information will be highly credible or perhaps not.
 
.
Indian army only doing their job and sending these jihadis to their 72 randis

Im glad you are accepting an independant enquiry will show that "Indian army only doing their job". Their job was to systematically kill muslims? Well done EurofighterN. Your post is insensitive and shows the mindset exists in people of your mentality. Your insinuation that these 60000 were jihadis is a pathetic and weak attempt to diversify from the truth.
You can bury the bodies but you cant bury the truth!!
 
.
Im glad you are accepting an independant enquiry will show that "Indian army only doing their job". Their job was to systematically kill muslims? Well done EurofighterN. Your post is insensitive and shows the mindset exists in people of your mentality. Your insinuation that these 60000 were jihadis is a pathetic and weak attempt to diversify from the truth.
You can bury the bodies but you cant bury the truth!!



You got any proof they were not jihadis? we killed the jihadis who enter our land and they are the biggest enemey to Kashmiri people i salute the Indian army on a fine job and may it continue

---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 AM ----------



Even the Kashmiri people are killing these scumbags
 
Last edited by a moderator:
.
Im glad you are accepting an independant enquiry will show that "Indian army only doing their job". Their job was to systematically kill muslims? Well done EurofighterN. Your post is insensitive and shows the mindset exists in people of your mentality. Your insinuation that these 60000 were jihadis is a pathetic and weak attempt to diversify from the truth.
You can bury the bodies but you cant bury the truth!!

Well whenever your WOT 35,000 death toll is mentioned , Pakistanis are quick to clarify that 25,000 out of 35,000 were terrorists and thats just the toll of about 4 years. So why should be different for us after all Kashmir insurgency started in the late 1980s.
 
.
There is tremendous distrust on both sides. An independent investigation would be the right way forward and encouraged by both sides. If it results in finding the dogs that have committed these crimes then all should assist in an external body carrying out a full investigation.
Your insinuation in your previous post regarding pashto shows how "independent" your feelings are in this matter. The source i am sure that you got that information will be highly credible or perhaps not.


Its not my insinuation :

This was said by the Army Spokesperson based on the testimony of the inmates of the house were the militants were holed up . Here

Two militants killed in encounter in J&K - Times Of India
 
.
its a mass violation of human rights ....... the criminals who involved must brought to justice.
Indian Atrocities in Kashmir is not a new thing but now these graves proved it again that Indian army is involved in killings of thousands of kashmiris

Are you kidding....thousand of Sikhs were massacred in 1984, yet Sajjan Kumar walks Scott free, here they will cover them self with the Umbrella of insurgency.
If all these thousands of dead are supposedly infiltrators,.....I'll say that's half million incompetent army .
 
. .
Back
Top Bottom