DNA tests for bodies buried in unmarked graves in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced his government would perform the DNA profiling of bodies buried in them. Abdullah asserted that the report and recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission on the unmarked graves would not be ignored. Replying to the discussion in the Legislative Assembly on a motion filed by National Conference members and the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Omar said Tuesday it was essential to know the facts about the graves and answer every question. “We have to co-relate the figures. The figures quoted by media, SHRC and government differ from one another. The official figure about the civilian killings during militancy is 17,000 while separatists count them in lakhs,' he said adding that one could not be certain who was buried where. “Many people have been killed by militants; many militants have lost their lives during trainings and in other incidents, he said. “There is nothing black and white in Jammu and Kashmir. We have more grey areas. For the importance of the issue, its complexity, and to unearth the facts, I have floated the idea of Truth and Reconciliation Commission since the time I was in opposition,” Omar said. “Without it we can’t get answers. But the jurisdiction of the Commission shouldn’t be limited to this part of Kashmir but it should start its work from other side of the Kashmir also. This can be the biggest Jammu and Kashmir-centric CBM for the people of the state who want to know all about it,” he said. He urged the leadership of India and Pakistan to discuss it in their dialogue and come forward with a joint strategy. However, till such time TRC was constituted, Omar said, the state government would not sit idle. “I have assured you a number of times and reiterate this once again from the floor of this House my government would give due weight to the report and recommendations of SHRC regarding unmarked graves. We are not here to hide the facts or conceal the truth but our endeavor is to dig out the facts and bring these before the public,” he added. “This cannot be done overnight but we have to take a start in this direction,” he said, asking those who apprehended their missing dear ones were buried in these graves to help the government by providing DNA profile so that facts were ascertained. He told the members that if they have any more solid information about the graves, they should inform the SHRC and the government. Omar said the graves had appeared during the period from 1990 to 2006. “I could have easily said this matter does not pertain to my period but for the importance of the issue and to give justice to the people, I categorically announced that the report and recommendations of the SHRC would be given due weightage and action taken to find out the facts,” he elaborated. Saying it was a misnomer to call these “mass graves,” the chief minister said a wrong impression was being circulated as if hundreds of people were buried in a few graves as had been done in Cambodia or during the Hitler’s regime. “I have examined the records which reveal that 2,136 militants have been killed in Poonch since 1990 of whom, 2,090 were of foreign origin,” he said adding wherever militants had been killed by security forces, they were buried as per Islamic rites and their graves existed. He said militants from 12 countries including Russia, Chechnya, Sudan, Pakistan, Britain and Afghanistan had been killed in encounters in the state and their graves did exist. He said the members of recently surrendered Pir Panchal Group of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had identified graves of two teachers who were missing for more than 7 years and had been killed by HM tagging them as informers. Omar said 14 militants were killed in a recent encounter in Gurez and they had been buried with Islamic rites. “We know these were militants and if their graves are found after 20 to 25 years later, the similar questions may arise,” he asserted Maintaining a large number of disappeared persons were living normal life across the border, Omar said, they had married and were engaged in economic pursuits while still existing as disappeared persons here. Besides Sikhs and Kashmiri Pandits, large number of Kashmiri Muslims have been killed by militants. There have been massacres, political workers have been killed and my party has suffered. “We also want answers for this and other issues relating to militancy, migration and violation of rights,” he said. On the Rehabilitation policy, Omar said, it was aimed at helping the return of persons who had crossed LoC and were now living normal life there. “But our neighbour will not open gates for them to return with wives and children as it wished them to carry guns. We are working with Home Ministry to facilitate their return,” he said saying that 800-900 applications had been received of which 100 had been approved. Pointing towards BJP members, the chief minister said they could be absolved of the responsibility during militancy. “They have also to give answers to many questions regarding this issue as they were at the helm at the national level,” he said. Criticizing the opposition PDP, the chief minister said had the party been serious and interested in the general public concern regarding the issue they would not have left the House without discussing it. “They are only interested in electoral politics and try to derive political mileage out of such serious issues,” he said. He adding that during their tenure they made the SHRC chairman leave the job for not entertaining his recommendations. “But we are here to support every effort aimed at ascertaining truth and giving justice to the affected families,” he said. Omar took the British government to task saying it was only shedding crocodile tears for people of Kashmir. He reminded it of its involvement in huge human rights violations in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places. “Do not give us lessons about human rights, we know how you exported people from these countries to the areas where there is no rule of law and indulged in human rights violations,” he said adding that we are not of the grain who hide facts or shirk discussing issues of human rights. Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party walked out of the House after the speaker, Muhammad Akbar Lone, refused to suspend the Question Hour and allow PDP’s adjournment motion on unmarked graves to be discussed.