PDP prez asks police not to use pellet guns on protesters
Two students Tanveer Ahmad Dar and Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, both hailing from Palhalan, Pattan, were hit by pellets and are now battling to save vision at SMHS hospital, here.19-year-old Tanveer Ahmad Dar son of Abdul Majeed Dar of Tantraypur, Palhalan, Pattan was hit by pellets during forces action in Palhalan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on November 6.
He is admitted in Ophthalmology Department of SMHS Hospital and his condition continues to be critical with severe eye damage.
According to doctors, pellet injury has damaged Tanveer’s his right eye. “The pellet had hit him directly on the eyeball”.
They said they are keeping their fingers crossed as the boy has received serious eye injury as dozens of pellets hit him on face damaging his right eye.
“We are closely monitoring his condition and will take decision whether to go for surgery or not after some days. The perforated injury has left edema around his eye,” said Head Department of Ophthalmology, Dr Tariq Qureshi.
“I was shopping at the shop in Palhalan Chowk on November 6 when cops attacked me. They were chasing away some protesting youth in the area when I was caught in middle of them,” Tanveer told .
His father Abdul Majeed said protests were going on in the area against the arrest of some youth. “The police and paramilitary personnel fired teargas shells and pellets to disperse the crowd. My son was hit by the pellets”.
Pellets are like small iron ball bearings fired at a high velocity. Each cartridge in a gun contains around 400 pellets. When fired at short range, hundreds of pellets can pierce the body and damage the eyes.
Another student, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat of Aglar Pattan has been maimed by pellets after being hit by pellets on his face. He is also undergoing treatment at SMHS hospital.
“I was returning from a private hospital, where I had gone for a treatment of my teeth. The pellets fired by police hit me directly on face and eyes leaving me visionless,” Manzoor said.
Doctors treating him said Manzoor has a perforating eye injury, inflicting severe trauma to his eye ball. “The visual scenario seemed to be very bad.”
“The injury is very severe as the pellet has hit him near optic nerve. Next three days are very crucial for him as doctors will be able to decide how much vision he will regain,” said Dr Bashir Ahmad, who examined the victim at his Eye Center at Karan Nagar.
Few months back human rights watchdog Amnesty International had asked Jammu and Kashmir authorities to prohibit the use of pellet-firing shotguns in policing demonstrations, as they are inherently inaccurate and indiscriminate.
Pellet gun was introduced in Kashmir in 2010 to avoid civilian casualties. However, this gun has turned lethal as it has killed and blinded many people since then.
The study by the SKIMS has revealed that pellet guns had caused death of at least six persons and injuries to 198 others during four months of 2010.
Five persons, according to the study, have also lost their eyesight following pellet injuries.
Meanwhile, PDP president and MP Mehbooba Mufti has asked police to end use of pellet guns on protestors.
She visited the injured Palhalan boys at SMHS hospital today.
Talking to us, Mehbooba said authorities must prohibit the use of pellet-firing shotguns in policing demonstrations as this has proved fatal.
“It is very unfortunate that young boys are battling with severe eye injuries. If they were not part of any protest or stone pelting why they were attacked,” she said.
Mehbooba said she had earlier also asked the authorities to stop use of pellet guns. “Now I am saddened to know that cops are using the pellets, which is proving detrimental for youth. I will definitely take up this matter with the state government”.
When asked whether she will pitch for banning the pellet gun in J&K, she said, “I don’t want to comment on this.”
