Srinagar: Expressing dismay over Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s decision turning down a plea seeking ban on the use of pellet guns for crowd control in the valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) said that justifying the use of pellets is unfortunate.
Disappointed by the decision, President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that this is a chilling verdict.
“Court has not realized the predicament and pitiable condition of the victims who are hurt by the ruling. We were hopeful that court will bring relief to people but this astounding move has dashed all hopes. Despite public uproar and obvious lethality, court has declined to prohibit use of pellet guns,” he said.
Dr Hassan said pellets have not only maimed and blinded people, but they have left many dead. “They have turned lives of injured into half-lives. The use of pellet gun is not in line with international standards and violates basic norms of human rights,” he said.
He said protests occur in other parts of the country as well, but pellets are not used on them.
“Lodged in pellets are dangerous as they have the potential to move and damage vital organs. Retained pellets are poisonous and are particularly toxic to children,” he said.
The DAK president said in the current unrest more than 800 people were blinded by pellets and more than 1,350 persons have received injuries to other parts of the body other than eyes.
The HC yesterday rejected a plea seeking ban on the use of pellet guns for crowd control in the valley, where the ongoing unrest has left 83 civilians dead and over 9500 others injured in security force firing since July 9.
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