Let Truth Commission probe unmarked graves, J&K tells panel

 Jammu and Kashmir contemplates to investigate the unmarked graves case through yet to be constituted Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

 Though the constitution of the TRC is lingering from the last several years, the government has already asked the state human rights commission (SHRC) to dispose of the unmarked graves case, which it has been investigating since last few years.
In its 27-page action taken report, submitted to the SHRC, the state home department has traced various facets of militancy and unmarked graves in Kashmir.

The report maintains that most of the unmarked graves already stand identified by the respective police stations over the past 20 years. And the remaining ones are mostly of unidentified militants who were killed in encounters with various security agencies.
But, the home department said the government is open to further probe including DNA sampling to confirm the identify of the deceased.

The report said, “It is in this background chief minister Omar Abdullah on the floor of the state legislature on March 5, 2011 gave an idea of having a TRC.”

“The honourable CM was pleased to mention that the government shall look into all the aspects relating to the establishment of such a commission. The CM also raised the issue of setting up of the TRC in the meeting of the national integration council held in New Delhi in September 2011,” the report said.

The SHRC had launched investigation into the unmarked graves following a campaign by the association of parents of disappeared persons which released a report, “facts underground” in March, 2008, alleging the presence of unmarked graves in the state.
The SHRC had issued notices to the then Congress-PDP government asking it to set up the probe committee.

The commission had also asked for the prosecution of the people involved in perpetrating enforced disappearance.

The human rights groups have listed 2,717 graves in 90 graveyards in Poonch and 1,127 graves in 118 cemeteries in Rajouri districts of Jammu.