Unmarked graves: J&K govt doesnt want DNA test

If family members of any of missing persons want DNA tests,they will have to point out the exact grave where they believe the body has been buried,the government has told the rights panel.

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The Jammu and Kashmir government has told the State Human Rights Commission that all the unmarked graves found in North Kashmir belonged to militants and that it does not want to carry DNA investigations to ascertain their identities. If family members of any of missing persons want DNA tests,they will have to point out the exact grave where they believe the body has been buried,the government has told the rights panel.

Last year,a report by the State Human Rights Commission had revealed that there were 2,156 unidentified bodies in 38 graveyards of North Kashmir and recommended to the government to carry out DNA profiling of the bodies so that it can be matched with families of the missing persons.

In its Action Taken Report filed with the panel on Tuesday,the home department said the people buried in the unmarked graves were terrorists beyond any doubt and therefore it does not want to carry out DNA investigations.

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It also said the Government of India does not have the capability to carry out DNA investigations of all the unmarked graves,as it would take years. The families of the disappeared should identify the particular graveyard and the grave where they believe their family member might be buried. Only then after acquiring proper permission DNA test of that particular grave would be carried out…, said the report.

The rights panel had probed the matter after a campaign by the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons which,in March 2008,released a report that alleged the presence of unmarked graves in the state. The next month,the panel issued notices to the state government.

The government also told the panel it has constituted a cell in the CID for families of the missing persons to come forward to file cases of disappearances.

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