Ministry to investigate empty grave mystery

Authorities in Bac Kan Province are investigating 13 graves of soldiers which are said to contain no remains.

Authorities in Bac Kan Province are investigating 13 graves of soldiers which are said to contain no remains.

  

Ministry to investigate empty grave mystery 

On August 9, 1968, 13 young soldiers were killed when the dam at Tan Minh Reservoir broke. They were helping the locals and saving the state belongings during a flood.

Their remains were collected after three searches and buried at Bac Kan Martyrs' Cemetery. However, their identities were never clarified.

After receiving suggestions from their families, Bac Kan Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs opened the coffins for DNA tests to identify each of the soldiers. The families were also present in order to take blood samples.

Normally, the remains or ashes are kept inside the urns but everyone was shocked when they discovered that there are no remains or urns inside the graves but nylon bags with dirt.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs then asked the Department of National Devotees to work with Bac Kan Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to investigate the case.

Pham Duy Hung, vice chairman of Bac Kan People's Committee, said on December 4 that they would have a meeting with related agencies about the case. Hung said because the search and burial had been carried out a long time ago, the documents had been lost so it was a very difficult situation to discover what happened.