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Scores of pellet victims still receiving treatment at SMHS

FARZANA SYED. Dated: 4/8/2018 11:27:42 PM

Majority victims have severe injuries in eyes

SRINAGAR, Apr 8: Over 35 youth hit by pellets, in the aftermath of the recent Shopian killings, are still receiving treatment at the SMHS hospital here in Srinagar. The doctors at the hospital revealed that majority of the victims were hit by pellets in one or both the eyes.
On April 1, following the killing of 4 civilians and 13 local militants by security forces in Kachidoora village of Shopian district of South Kashmir, protests broke out across several areas of Kashmir valley.
During protests, hundreds of persons were injured in action by government forces. Majority of the people were inflicted with serious pellet injuries in eyes and other body parts.
Scores of youth with serious pellet injuries were admitted at the ophthalmology department of the SMHS hospital here in Srinagar.
The doctors at SMHS hospital revealed that at least 40 persons inflicted with pellet injuries were admitted in SMHS on April 1 and 2.
The doctors at the department said that around 30 eye surgeries were conducted in the department of ophthalmology that night. The medicos revealed that all the pellet victims belonged in the age group of 14 to 25.
"At least 10 youth were hit by pellets in both the eyes including entire face. The pellet injuries have posed a threat of losing vision to all these youngsters," a senior doctor at SMHS hospital revealed.
"The injuries have been severe which may lead to loss of eye sight. At present the youth are under treatment. The improvement can only depict whether the youth will retain vision or not," he said.
Pertinently, the usage of pellet guns on the protesters during 2016 turmoil had left thousands of youth across Kashmir valley visionless. Moreover, several youth were killed by deadly pellet guns used by security forces.
According to reports, over 10,000 persons were inflicted severe pellet injuries during 2016 turmoil when violence and protests were witnessed in the entire valley following the killing of HM commander Burhan Wani.
Since then there has not been any stoppage of the pellet guns.
The doctors revealed that around a dozen youth had suffered severe pellet injuries in other body parts. They said few were discharged however many were still receiving treatment at the hospital.
The authorities at the district hospital Shopian revealed that over a hundred persons inflicted with pellet injuries were brought to hospital on April 1.
"Those with minor injuries were given treatment at the hospital while scores of other persons had serious pellet injuries in eyes and we referred them to Srinagar," a doctor at Shopian district hospital said.
The doctors at the SMHS hospital revealed that in majority of the cases of severe pellet injuries, the victims were feared to lose their eye sight.
According to officials around 200 persons were inflicted with pellet injuries recently in South Kashmir areas following the protests in the aftermath of killings.