Our Bureau
Srinagar
A new report has come out recently called the ‘Unraveling the Truth: A Critical Study of Unmarked and Unidentified Graves in Kashmir Valley’ that has questioned the “mass grave” narrative in north Kashmir that has been there for a long time. The report has stated that 90% of the 4,056 unmarked graves which were investigated belong to foreign and local terrorists.
The report on the Unmarked and Unidentified Graves is based on the study conducted by the NGO based in Kashmir – Save Youth Save Future Foundation (SYSFF). The research was led by Wajahat Farooq Bhat, Zahid Sultan, Irshad Ahmed Bhat, Anika Nazir, Muddasir Ahmed Dar and Shabir Ahmed.
As per the report, around 2,493 graves (approximately 61.5%) were identified as the ones that belonged to foreign terrorists who were killed in counter-insurgency operations. Around 1,208 graves (approximately 29.8%) were of the local terrorists from the valley who were killed in operations carried out by the security forces. Only 9 graves belonged to civilians while there were 70 graves that belonged to the tribal invaders who died during the 1947 Kashmir war.
One of the researchers, Wajahat Farooq Bhatt stated that the project was started 7 years ago back in 2018 and then the groundwork of the research was completed in 2024. Then they took time to submit the report to different government offices in order to dismiss any narrative that Pakistan has created to spread panic in Kashmir.
“The organisation, which is funded by people, started this project in 2018 and completed the ground work in 2024. After that, we were preparing the report for submitting to various government offices. The report can stand testimony to counter any narrative that is being dictated from across the border to spread panic in the Kashmir valley,” Bhat said.
