KL Report
SRINAGAR
The ‘concern’ that painful pellets are proving perilous on Kashmiri protestors stands ‘permissible’ after it came to fore that alone in District Hospital Baramulla, 75 patients out of total 194 with pellet injuries were admitted in five odd months of the year 2010, 2011 and 2013. Among the 75 patients, one youth namely Abdul Gani Gogri son of Muhammad Ahsan resident of Lar Ganaora Rafiabad was brought dead on August 25, 2011 in District Hospital Baramulla. Gogri had received pellet injuries on left shoulder and left side of the chest. Ten cases of serious eye injuries caused by the supposedly non-lethal weapon have also been confirmed by the District Hospital authorities.
In an official reply to an RTI application filed by Abdul Manan Bukhari, legal cell head of Hurriyat (M), District hospital Baramulla administration has maintained that around 10 patients with pellet injuries in eyes were admitted in the hospital in five odd months of the year 2010, 2011 and 2013.
“Out of the 10 patients with eye injuries, two were shifted to Srinagar for further management. One youth namely Muzamil Qayoom son of Abdul Qayoom resident of Sheeri Baramulla, who suffered pellet injuries to his left eye on February 12, 2013 has lost the vision of his left eye and for further treatment we referred him to SMHS hospital Srinagar,” reads the SMHS reply to the RTI query.
The RTI query according to CNS, further replies that patients with open globe injuries were subjected to surgeries. “Touseef Ahmed Khan son of Muhammad Amin resident of Kakar Hamam Baramulla who was injured on March 7, 2013 was referred to SMHS hospital for ophthalmic consultation. The patient has pellet injury in his eye lid and left upper sdera.
Similarly another patient namely Muhammad Yousuf Chana son of Muhammad Ismayel of Armpora Sopre was admitted under MRD number 0004701 in our hospital. The youth was injured on December 19, 2010 and suffered multiple pallet injuries on legs and abdomen and had deep injury in right leg. The patient was given blood transfusion, but got palmanry,” reads RTI query adding that most of the injured were discharged from the hospital after treatment.
The applicant Abdul Manan Bukhari had sought the information about the total number of injured protestors admitted in DH Baramulla from 2010 to 2013. However, the hospital administration provided information about those injured admitted in the said hospital for the few months of the year 2010, 2011 and 2013.
The RTI query reveals that from 9 February 2013 to 11 March 2013, 91 patients were admitted in District Hospital Baramulla alone amoung which 40 patients were having pellet injuries. “During the same period two youth namely Rayees Ahmed Shiekh son of Bashir Ahmed resident of Chogal Handwara and Imran Rehman Sofi son of Abdul Rehman were admitted in the hospital with bullet injuries,” Medical Superintendent District Hospital Baramulla replies.
The information sought under RTI further reveals that from 31 July 2010 to 21 November 2010, at least 89 patients were admitted with different injuries out of which 9 protestors with bullet injuries were admitted on a single day in August 31, 2010. “One out of the 9 injured protestors, identified as Javid Ahmed Teli son Ghulam Muhammad of Baramulla was referred to SKIMS where he died.”
The RTI query further reveals that on 25 August 2011 four patients were admitted in the hospital with pellet injuries amoung which one a youth namely Abdul Gani Gogri succumbed to his injuries.
