SRINAGAR, Jammu & Kashmir—First causality has been reported in Occupied Kashmir post Indian decision of revoking the special status of IOK is a Muslim boy as Indian forces resort to pellet guns and live fire.
The Modi government’s decision to nullify Article 370 link divide Jammu & Kashmir link into two Union territories has claimed its first civilian victim—a 17-year-old boy named Osaib Altaf, from Srinagar’s Palpora area—*HuffPost India *has learnt.
A visit to Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, and interviews with hospital authorities, revealed 13 cases of pellet injuries. At least some of these pellet injuries were to the eyes of victims.
Altaf’s family told *HuffPost India* that he was among a group of boys who were cornered by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, on the afternoon of Monday August 5 2019, while the boys were at a playground. The same day home minister Amit Shah announced the government’s plans to bifurcate the state in the Rajya Sabha. Advertisement
“All of them were cornered by CRPF men on a footbridge as they had come from two opposite sides of the bridge. Seeing no way out, the boys jumped into the river. While others were saved by the quick response of labourers extracting sand on the river, Osaib couldn’t make it. He didn’t know swimming. He remained in the water for 20 minutes,” Altaf’s father, Mohammad Altaf Marazi, said*.*
Two of the boys were admitted to hospital by local people, while Altaf’s body was brought home, said Marazi.