Ubeer Naqushbandi
SRINAGAR
Outside Operation Theatre at SKIMS Soura, Sonaullah Mir is sitting heartbroken. Behind his downhearted posture is his 22-year-old son Rayees Ahmad Bhat. Bhat Jr was shifted in a critical condition here yesterday after receiving bullet in his right hand near his home in north Kashmir’s Lalpora Lolab.
Such was the severity of the bullet wound in Bhat’s right hand that medicos used every possible treatment inside the crowd filled theatre to treat it. But they finally gave up and broke the shattering news to the already grieving father. “Your son’s right hand is to be amputated,” this is what Bhat Sr was told. The revelation was enough to send this poor man into a silent yet hysterical state.
As the din triggered by the incoming ambulances continues making SKIMS a panic centre, it was Rayees’s cousin who did all the talking on behalf of the family.
Kaiser, the injured boy’s cousin, while recalling the incidence says that Rayees was returning home for lunch from neighbour’s house Sunday noon where he was digging bore when incident took place.
“He had nothing to do with protests that had erupted in the area over the killing of Burhan Wani,” says the cousin, amid shrilling ambiance of SKIMS. “On way to home, he was fired upon by forces. A bullet made a deep bore on his right hand and he fainted on the spot.”
The blood-oozing body of the boy continued to remain unattended outside his home till his father mustered courage to step out to be with his injured son. The cousin says the poor father could only raise hapless cries amid desolated neighbourhood around.
“Being a poor man, Rayees’ father had no money to arrange for his medical treatment immediately,” says Kaiser, as another wounded reaches SKIMS for treatment. “After his relatives pooled money, Rayees was finally ferried to SKIMS Soura where doctors finally decided to amputate his right hand keeping severity of his injury in view.”
A Class 12 student, Rayees was working as bore digger to support his family expenses. Once he will be discharged from the hospital, Rayees won’t be the same again.
Lolab’s bore digger will be now amputated for life!
