‘Mass graves in Kashmir need urgent investigation’

Brussels, May 16: The Kashmir Centre, EU, in the latest issue of its periodical “Kashmir report” said that the Kashmir dispute was now the longest territorial dispute in the world.

According to Kashmir Media Service, hundreds of mass graves, which, as Amnesty International has recognised, are believed to contain victims of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses need urgent investigation.  

The periodical said that Kashmiris had not forgotten that less than a year ago, senior leader of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Sheikh Abdul Aziz was shot dead while leading a peaceful protest march. During the 62 years since the partition of the sub-continent in 1947, thousands have lost their lives through summary execution, disappearances and torture, the periodical added.

It said the abuse of human rights in occupied Kashmir since the insurgency began in 1989 has been the subject of numerous surveys carried out by Amnesty International and other human rights organisations.

The periodical further said that during the election campaign for 15th Lok Sabha elections, violence once again erupted in the occupied territory, adding in Bandipora during a peaceful anti-poll demonstration, Indian troops injured several Hurriyet workers. Similarly, it said, in Kishtwar district, during a siege and search operation, carried out by occupation authorities, a woman, Amina Bano was killed and two others were injured.

It is imperative that all extra-judicial and arbitrary killings in Kashmir are halted and for those, who have occurred, a full and impartial investigation is held, (KMS)