SRINAGAR: Amid calls for ban on use of pellet guns by security forces in Kashmir, the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir has failed to compile the list of people killed and injured in the pellet firing of security men during over five months of unrest in the Valley.
“The details about the persons, who lost their lives, received injuries or lost their eyesight due to pellets in recent law and order disturbances in the Valley, are being collected/compiled from various sources and agencies,” J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who also holds Home portfolio, informed the Legislative Assembly, which is in session in Jammu, in a written reply.
After the unrest in the Valley triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016, security forces used different non-lethal weapons including pellet guns to quell the protests and restore normalcy.
According to official figures 76 people and two police men were killed and over 13000 injured in over five months of unrest in the Valley. However, unofficial figures put the death toll figure to 94 including two policemen.
The use of pellets by security forces, according to unofficial figures, has caused death of 14 people during the over five months long unrest in the Valley.
Over 8000 people have been injured by the pellets with more than 1000 sustaining injuries in eyes.
At least half a dozen people, mostly teenagers, have completely lost vision after being hit by pellets in both eyes. Among the people totally blinded by pellets is 14-year-old Insha Mushtaq of South Kashmir’s Shopian district, who wanted to become a doctor.
After widespread eye injuries caused by the pellets, there have been calls for banning use of pellets by security forces in the Valley.
On January 9, J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for next of kin of those killed during the unrest in the Valley.
She had further said that job opportunities would be made available to the persons who lost their eyesight during the unrest.
“Arrangements for education at Delhi and other places would be made for the students, whose eyesight got affected due to pellets or other injuries. I have already spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this regard,” Mehbooba had said.
Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh during his August 25, 2016 visit to Srinagar had stated that an alternative to pellet guns would be announced.
Earlier, on July 26, 2016 Union Ministry of Home Affairs had constituted a seven member committee for exploring alternatives to pellet guns.
On September 3, Home Ministry approved use of PAVA shells by security forces to control mobs in Valley but said pellet guns would be used in "rarest of rare cases".
The mainstream and separatist politicians have been calling for ban on use of pellets guns in Kashmir.
Even senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha-led five member team, which twice visited Kashmir last year and also met separatists, in their report submitted to Union Home Ministry called for ban on use of pellet guns.
“The use of pellet guns for crowd control was the sorest point of all conversation with Kashmiris. They want the pellet guns banned and cannot understand why Government of India is delaying this decision and why Indian security establishment is reluctant to give up this weapon,” the report states.