With the fear of being implicated in cases of stone pelting, youths in villages of Kupwara district use a different means to remove pellets from their bodies instead of going to hospitals for proper treatment.
Unaware of the long term consequences, these youth are visiting pharmacists and even blacksmiths to get the pellets removed from the bodies.
On August 5, dozens of youth were hit by pellets fired by security forces in Kralgund Kupwara, the entry point of Langate constituency on Baramulla-Kupwara highway.
According to residents, people from all the adjoining backward villages had assembled at Kralgund to stage protests after Friday prayers against the killing of youth in valley during the unrest that erupted in the wake of the killing of Burhan Wani.
“People from all villages of Qaziabad area assembled at Kralgund and participated in protests on which security men used force. Police resorted to indiscriminate use of pellet guns, injuring dozens of youth,” a group of youth told this reporter.
Around 10-12 youth from Rangpath village were among the injured, however to hide their identity the injured youth didn’t visit any hospital but went home without sharing the incident with the locals.
“We didn’t share it with anyone in our village to avoid police action. We had a fear of getting arrested later by police,” said a group of youth who didn’t want to be named. “There are other youth who recently removed pellets from their arms as they didn’t share it with anyone due to police fear.”
The injured youth visited a blacksmith and removed the pellets themselves.
“We went to blacksmith and used hot needles to remove pellets from our body,” said the injured youth. They have not visited any hospital.
The youth include some students who are pursuing under graduate courses.
“Our lives will become hell. Our parents and neighbours will have to bear the brunt if our identity is revealed to police. After using force against us, police later beat us for participating in protests,” said one of the injured youth.
Besides fear of arrests by police, the youth have apprehension of FIRs being registered against them in police station which can mar their career.
During the ongoing 53-day unrest in Kashmir, about 8500 civilians have been injured in action by security forces against pro-freedom protesters. The injuries include that by pellets, bullets and tear gas shells. Besides, 71 civilians have been shot dead by the security forces during the unrest.
Fearing police action, youths get pellets removed by blacksmiths
