Take steps to identify bodies in unmarked graves: PDP

The People's Democratic Party on Thursday staged a demonstration here demanding identification of martyrs buried in unmarked graves.

The PDP cited a States Human Rights Commission report that said the number of bodies could be more than 2,100. It called for action against those involved in these mass murders.

A large number of PDP workers, led by party president Mehbooba Mufti, took out a procession from the party headquarters.

The procession was intercepted by police near the Regal Chowk, where Ms. Mufti and legislators sat on a dharna in support of their demands.

The PDP leader said it was an irony that the country's political parties, establishment and civil society had almost “abandoned Kashmir” and the plight of its residents.

“It was obvious from lack of any reaction to the detection of mass graves that Kashmir is not a cause for concern but is ignored even when something of the proportions of a national shame has taken place here.”

She said that at a time when millions of people across the country had mobilised themselves into an effective anti-corruption campaign, Kashmir was presenting a challenge to the conscience and idea of India, not evoking a single voice of concern and solidarity.

She claimed that the people of the State were feeling abandoned and unwanted as even after thousands of deaths were unaccounted for, there was hardly any significant step to probe the issue.

‘A cosmetic exercise'

Terming the State government's announcement of releasing a dozen political prisoners on the eve of Eid a cosmetic exercise, Ms. Mufti said the bulk of political detainees and youths were still behind the bars for none of their fault.