A Mumbai-based ophthalmologist, S. Natarajan, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Aditya Jyot Eye hospital, has infused a new ray of hope among those injured by pellets in Kashmir valley.
Over a hundred boys and a few girls in Kashmir are staring at a dark future, owing to pellet injuries in their eyes, which can potentially make them blind.
A team of doctors at Srinagar's Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS), Srinagar, led by Natarajan conducted 24 surgeries between July 26 and 27, an official statement by the Borderless World Foundation, a humanitarian organization said.
Natarajan, who is a Padmashri recepient, has been conducting the procedures along with four other doctors, who will likely help restore the vision of these patients.
The Foundation has called upon the people in the valley to contact them in case they know anyone suffering from pellet eye injuries.
A few patients who had acute eye injuries have also been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. A team of AIIMS doctors was also deputed by the Central government to the state, which strongly advocated against the use of pellet guns for crowd control.
Besides, international organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch have also flayed the Central and State government for allowing the use of pellet guns as non-lethal means of crowd control.
The valley has been on the edge since July 8, when Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani was killed by the security forces in an encounter in South Kashmir.
Nearly 50 people have been killed in the clashes between security forces and protestors and over 2,500 people have been injured.
The State government has decided to lift the curfew from majority of the areas of the Kashmir valley. Mobile phone services and internet have also been partially restored.
Helpline Numbers:
The Borderless World Foundation has made available following contact numbers in the valley in case anyone needs to treat pellet-injured victims.
Haris Abrar Kashmiri on 8715038918, Khurshid on 941902894/ 9999991406, Gitanjali 8493926889, Iqra 9622585341 or 0194-2430448.
