Bodies of 17 people who are claimed to be HPG members martyred during the Turkish army operations in Tatvan district of Bitlis between March 28 and April 6 are kept at Bitlis-Tatvan Public Hospital.

12 members of the HPG (People's Defense Forces) were claimed to have died and one other to have been captured alive during the air-supported operation launched by the Turkish army in seven villages in Bitlis' Tatvan district following the declaration of a curfew in this territory on March 28.

Six more HPG members were claimed to have died as result of the operation conducted in the same region on April 5.

Body of Ersin Ersay, one of those martyred in the mentioned operation, was identified by his family and laid to rest in Van province on April 6.

Out of the 18 who fell in these operations, bodies of 17 are being kept at the newly constructed Bitlis-Tatvan Public Hospital in Rahva region.