Hospitals in Kashmir are packed to capacity and they are finding it extremely difficult to admit more patients with pellet injuries. The development comes at a time when the government is mulling to transfer dozens of pellet victims to New Delhi for advanced treatment.
According to the authorities at the SMHS hospital, they have received more than 70 patients with pellet injuries on Thursday and Friday. The CRPF is continuing to use pellet guns to disperse the crowds that are protesting the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. Senior CRPF officials have told the media that they have not received any directions to refrain from using pellet guns.
Dozens of protesters were injured as they took to streets in Srinagar, Pulwama and Anantnag on Thursday. Nocturnal protests were held at many places with the youth conducting candle light protests along with women and raising slogans against the Centre and the state government. The outrage against the use of pellet guns is increasing as local writers and the state’s doctors have appealed to the government to immediately ban pellet guns. Three prominent eye surgeons from Mumbai have already arrived in Srinagar to conduct critical eye surgeries of pellet victims.