This Article is From Aug 28, 2016

'Are You Angry With Me?' Mehbooba Mufti Asks Girl Blinded by Pellets

Mehbooba Mufti assured the girl's parents that state government would ensure best possible treatment her.

Highlights

  • Insha, 16, was blinded by pellet gun during a clash in Shopian
  • First time Chief Minister visited a patient with eye injuries at hospital
  • More than 100 people have sustained eye injuries from pellets in clashes
New Delhi: A day after suggesting three-point plan to resolve tension in Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visited a teenager, lost her vision to pellet injuries and is undergoing treatment at Delhi's AIIMS.

"I met 16-yr-old Insha today at the hospital. When I saw her I was shocked. I asked her if she was angry with me. Her mother started crying," Ms Mufti said after meeting the girl. "I wondered where we went wrong. There was an encounter and then such a situation erupted."  

While interacting with the doctors at Eye Centre at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ms Mufti requested them to make all possible efforts to restore the eyesight of the Kashmiri girl, according to a statement issued by her office. She assured the girl's parents that the state government would ensure best possible treatment for their daughter.

"Even if she requires an eye transplant to make her see the world around again, the state government would provide full support for the same," she told the doctors.

Insha, a student of Class 9, lost vision after suffering pellet gun injuries during a clash between protesters and security forces in Shopian.

More than 100 people have sustained eye injuries from pellets in the ongoing unrest in the Valley - some of the injured were children. But this was the first time the Chief Minister visited a patient with eye injuries at a hospital.  

The widespread injuries by pellet guns had a role in fuelling the agitation. While the Central and the state governments have both advised the security forces to use less force, former home secretary GK pillai has defended their use,  a decision since the agitation of 2010,  sayingit has reduced the number of deaths which could have otherwise happened.

In the unrest triggered by the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8, nearly 70 people have died and over 5,000 have been injured.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has repeatedly said the government is coming up with an alternative for pellet guns.

 
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