Centre deputes eye specialists for J&K

“The condition of 40 patients undergoing treatment in the hospital is not good”.

Hardly older than Omar, a 14-year-old girl from the Shopian district of South Kashmir is battling for life at the ICU in the same hospital. Dozens have been left blinded forever by pellets shot by security forces, yet we are being made to believe that all these measures are being taken to save democracy in the region. At a stroke, she was blinded in both eyes.

“I can’t see anything right now”, the boy said, declining to give his name as he wiped away tears that were dripping out of the sides of his bandaged eyes.

In Srinagar, shops and business establishments remained closed for the sixth straight day and pellet and bullet victims were treated in major hospitals. Other hospitals in the valley have also received hundreds of injured hit by pellets.

According to the health department, the injured include 100 in Anantnag – among whom 13 critical patients were referred to Srinagar – 210 in Pulwama, 36 in Kulgam and 54 in Baramulla. “I strongly suggest that the use of pellet guns be stopped immediately because it is making young people blind”, he was quoted as saying.

With almost 90 protestors in Jammu and Kashmir sustaining pellet injuries in the eye during police action against violent mobs, the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday rushed a three-member team of eye specialists to the state to assist in their treatment.

“Health Minister J.P. Nadda has directed a three-member high-level team of eye specialists from the AIIMS in New Delhi to be sent to Jammu and Kashmir to assist the State in providing medical care to the persons injured in the ongoing law and order problem”, an official statement said.

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir must ensure that people injured in shootings by security forces have access to medical assistance, and medical professionals can carry out their work without interference, Amnesty International India has said.

The bus driver and a pilgrim had died in the wreck.

“Out of the total 192 injured admitted in SMHS, 99 percent have suffered multiple injuries”. He says his vision is blurred and the fear gnawing at him is that it will never return.

Waves of violence have swept the Valley this week after the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani and two of his associates in an encounter.

Thirty-four civilians and a policeman have lost their lives in the past four days. Like any other opposition leader, she did her best to gain maximum political mileage out of the situation and acted like if she came to power, no innocent’s blood would ever be spilled on the streets of Kashmir.

Earlier this week, a Muslim couple’s long, risky walk during curfew hours to deliver a sackful of food to a Hindu family struck a chord with the nation amid the many scenes of suffering.