The Dead Eyes of Kashmir: Pellet Victims Share Their Stories

The Quint spoke to three pellet victims in Kashmir who lost their vision.  (Photo: Altered by The Quint/Harsh Sahani)

Burhan Wani was shot dead on 8 July 2016 and the Kashmir Valley saw a wave of deadly violence in the aftermath. The internet was swamped with close-ups of bloody ruptured eyes and pellet-scarred faces.

These faces belonged to young boys and girls who were shot with pellet guns in clashes with the armed forces. Even though the curfew has been lifted and schools have been reopened, many businesses remain shut and classes have resumed with many empty chairs.

The Quint spoke to three pellet victims in Kashmir who lost their vision to the violence.

Pulwama district in Kashmir is now home to about 67 pellet gun victims, most of them with dead eyes. Their pictures have now disappeared from the internet but they continue their lives with the tiny percent of vision they have left.

Ifra Jan was shot on 31 October 2016 in her home yard. (Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

Irfa Jan, a 14-year-old from Pulwama struggles to read and dreams of seeing her mother's face again. Irfa was shot with pellets in her home yard when she went outside to look for her brother.

"I feel bad when they go to school because I can’t. I can’t even do anything else," says Ifra.

Zahoor Ahmed cannot read. He wishes to resume college with his friends. (Photo: The Quint)

Zahoor Ahmed was at his home when the Army team from 53 Rashtriya Rifles, Para-military Central Reserve Police Force cordoned off Mulwani area and started a search operation.

“One day, RR came and ransacked the houses and mosques in our area. We couldn't tolerate it and we went and protested. Later they came to our house to arrest us but we resisted. Hence, they fired pellets at us,” recalls Zahoor.

Manzoor Bhat was shot outside his home on 11 September 2016. (Photo: The Quint)

Manzoor Bhat, 30, lives with his wife and two children in Kareemabad village. He is the only earning-hand in the family and has not been able to work since the pellets partially damaged his right eye.

“Now some of my friends who used to work with me help me at times. That’s how my family lives. I can’t see colours. Instead of using one colour (thread), I end up using some other colour.” Bhat works in a Pashmina shop.

Video Editor: Puneet Bhatia

Cameraperson: Vikar Syed

Translator: Ubaid Aziz