Large number of Kashmiri people injured in police action
29 Dec, 2013
An application was filed with the Government Medical College, Srinagar and its associate hospitals in Kashmir about the total number of patients admitted and the total number of deaths reported due to excessive use of pellets by police and paramilitary forces.
The reply from the Department of General Surgery of SKIMS Medical College Bemina states that 53 persons suffered bullet injuries and 118 persons got injured by pellet guns during the period from 2010 to 2013. The reply stated that maximum injuries were reported in 2010 when 36 persons were admitted in JVC Bemina for bullet injuries and 100 for pellet injuries. In 2011 only one person was admitted for bullet injuries while in 2012 number of persons admitted for bullet injuries was 13 and 7 people were injured during blasts. For 2013, number of bullet injuries was counted as 3 while pellet injuries were recorded as 18.
Department of General Surgery of SKIMS Medical College Bemina stated in the reply that during the three year period, 19 persons were admitted in Ophthalmology department and surgery was needed by 15 of them. It also said that 12 persons got blind by one eye while two persons became permanently blind.
However, the RTI applicant claimed that many persons whose records are available with him are not included in the list provided by the SMHS hospital and alleged that the hospital authorities have violated RTI Act by providing distorted information.