Over 15,000 Kashmiris severely injured by pellets, shells since Burhan Wani martyrdom: Report
Shares
SRINAGAR - A total of 52 persons were killed and 9,042 civilians injured in protests sparked by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016, according to the J&K government.
In reply to a question from National Conference legislator Shameema Firdous, J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, also State’s Home Minister, informed the Assembly that 9,042 persons were injured between July 2016 till February 2017.
Of the 9,042 injured, 368 suffered bullet injuries, 6221 pellet injuries and four persons suffered wounds from pava shells. “Around 2,449 people sustained eye injuries. Fifteen people were permanently disabled and 39 were partially disabled,” said the government.
The government also said that 51 persons died in the unrest, which was far less than the figures that emerged then in the media reports, which put the death toll above 90. Similarly, around 15,000 injuries, including security forces, were reported in different hospitals by the media reports in 2016.
South Kashmir’s Anantnag and Pulwama saw the maximum number of injuries and deaths.
Besdies, the government said, 552 people were detained under the controversial Public Safety Act in 2016. “All of them have been released,” it said.
In 2017, 201 more people were detained under the Act. “At least 124 persons were released and 77 still under preventive detention,” it said.
“It would not be feasible to disclose the particulars of the detenue, keeping in view their security and the security of their families,” reads the government reply.
