Darkness at noon in this hospital ward in Shopian

Though just 14, Alif Ahmad (name changed) is stoic as he lies in Ward 8 of Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital here. His sister, just two years older, attends to him.

According to doctors, Ahmad has “pellet perforations in the left eye”. “We were told pellets have damaged the eye. We are praying the doctor’s diagnosis is wrong and his sight is intact. He resumed schooling after a long winter break recently,” Ahmad’s sister said.

Fingers crossed

However, the ophthalmologist, who operated upon the Class 8 student, has his fingers crossed. “The trauma to the eye due to the pellets is grave. It’s too early to say whether he loses sight partially or completely,” he said.

The hospital’s ophthalmology department worked in an emergency-like situation on Sunday morning, when several injured protesters from the Draggad and Kachdoora areas of Shopian started pouring in.

“Of 44 patients admitted on Sunday, 40 were victims of pellets, chiefly with eye injuries, and four of bullet injuries,” the medical superintendent said.

Ahmad is one of the many young men in Ward 8. For the first time since the killing of Hizb militant Burhan Wani in June 2016, the ward is grim and reflects a palpable rage.

“I want an honourable death. How could we stand the sight of our local boys being burnt alive at the encounter site,” said an injured youth referring to the trapped militants.

The eyes of many of the young men were bandaged, many still bleeding from pellet deposition, others red-eyed but healing.

For 14-year-old blindfolded Murtaza Hussain, the pellets continue to give him sleepless nights. “We could not dislodge all the pellets,” said a doctor. Since Sunday, Hussain’s family have been praying at a nearby mosque. “We cannot bear the news that he has lost sight. He is too young to see darkness around. This is the age to be in school,” said a relative.

Young victims

According to the hospital records, over 80% of the pellet victims are below 26. There are many like Abbas Hussain, with injuries to both eyes. Doctors say he is being treated for trauma and bleeding right now. “Any vision tests will be done later,” said a relative.

Pellets have also caused other injuries, with 10 youth admitted with wounds in the chest. Zakir Ahmad, a college student from Shopian, was hit by “over 500 pellet bearings” and is in the neurosurgery ward. “He has not spoken since he was admitted. We pray he talks soon,” a family member said.