UN human rights experts show concerns over unmarked graves in IIOJK – Op-Ed

Srinagar: UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances made a public communique which was sent to Indian government. UN Special Rapporteurs expressed severe concerns over the longstanding lack of identification and preservation of unmarked graves containing the remains of unidentified persons as well as alleged enforced disappearances in IIOJK on many occasions.

They expressed concerns over continued lack of identification and preservation of unmarked single and mass graves in IIOJK, including the failure to conduct forensic investigations in accordance with international standards.

The experts have sought following clarification from Indian government: – What steps have been taken to locate unmarked single and mass graves in IIOJK and to keep the families informed about the process? What is the outcome of any criminal investigation carried out to identify the perpetrators of the alleged enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings?

What measures have been taken to preserve / protect the unmarked grave sites from destruction or desecration? What are the efforts being taken to re-instate Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) or an equivalent investigatory body to attend the many pending HR cases? Between 1990 and 2009, 2700 unmarked and mass grave sites containing more than 2,940 bodies were documented across 55 villages in the districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara located in IIOJK.

Among these, 154 graves contained two bodies each and 23 were mass graves containing more than two (ranging from 3 to 17).  Civil society organizations estimate that in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, 100,000 individuals have been extra judicially killed and 8000 individuals have been subjected to enforced disappearances in so-called staged “encounters” with State forces since 1989.

A large number of the bodies buried in these unmarked and mass graves sites are believed to be victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, gender-based and sexual violence, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, allegedly committed by members of Indian armed forces, paramilitary and police units.

Most of the victims are reportedly civilians, mainly belonging to the Muslim minority in India. In addition, 2,717 unmarked and mass grave sites were discovered in Poonch district and 1,127 such graves in Rajouri district. The use of unmarked single and mass burials to dispose of victims of enforced disappearance and extra-judicial executions in reportedly a method employed by the Indian government to intimidate and discriminate against Muslim Kashmiris by denying victims and family members of victims of right to mourn their loved ones and to seek redress.

After 5 August 2019, nine communiques have been sent to India by UN Rapporteurs/ Working Groups, which are yet to be responded by Indian government. It has been observed that India neither pays any heed to the UN Communique nor it feels obliged to take corrective measures as suggested by UN Rapporteurs to improve human rights situation in IIOJK. Web Desk

 

Soruce – https://lipr.org.uk/un-human-rights-experts-show-concerns-over-unmarked-graves-in-iiojk/