The Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said on Sunday that she was not aware about use of pellet guns in Srinagar.“I heard it today itself that pellet guns are being used in Srinagar. I will seek an inquiry into it,” she told reporters at SMHS hospital here where she was on a visit.
When asked whether her government will ban use of pellet guns on protestors, she said: “I cannot commit right now. But we have to look into their use. Definitely, this needs to be reviewed.”
Two youth are right now admitted at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar with pellet injuries in eyes.
According to doctors, Tanveer Ahmed Dar, 19, from Palhalan Pattan, might lose vision in one of his eyes due to pellet injury.
“He has a pellet embedded in his optic nerve of the right eye, apart from many more on his face. Even after taking the pellet out, chances of restoring the vision in the affected eye are very bleak,” they said.
Another youth, 16-year-old Manzoor Ahmed Bhat from Aglar Pattan, has also received pellet injury in right eye.
Both persons were injured in Palhalan when clashes broke out between forces and people after Friday prayers.
Doctors said most people with pellet injuries have pellets in their faces. “Cops seem to target faces of youth. They want to maim and disable them; it is clear,” said a doctor.
Doctors at SMHS Hospital said more than 40 youth with pellet injuries were treated at SMHS Hospital this year.
“Although we have best of treatment facilities here, sometime injuries are so grave that people lose their vision,” Dr. Tariq Qureshi, HoD Opthamology told Mehbooba Mufti while she saw the injured at the hospital.
