Aftermath 2010 agitations the architectural designs of violence by occupational forces continues to haunt the people of Kashmir from all corners, this time by the exercise of pellet gunning, mostly on unarmed youth of valley who are protesting against the illegal occupation.
In order to quell the pro freedom caravan , Pellet guns were introduced in Kashmir as non lethal alternative to have power over the protesting youth after more than 140 demonstrates were killed by the police and paramilitary in firing during 2008,2009 and 2010 unrest.
Pellet guns in Kashmir have caused fatal injuries to demonstrators and have rendered most of them sightless, as forces instantaneously directly targets them on their eyes.
Despite of grave injuries by pellets and the loss of vision, forces continue to target protesters in the name of maximum restraint.
This pellet brutalities wrecked on innocent Kashmiri has coerced Mannan Bukhari to turn out to be a writer and some times documentary maker. Mannan, a human rights activist and defender who is presently heading legal division of All parties Huriyat conference has penned down book namely Scars of pellet guns in order to highlight the miseries of pellet gun on the victims.
The author in his debut book has put into view the miseries, tyranny, trauma and agony of pellet huntering since its inception.
A book Scars of pellet gun grabs you from the first page and makes your heart to go with the innocent pellet victims with out pointing fingers at anyone .This book is not a political lecture, but gripping and compassionate work of author based on factual confrontation. The book presents valuable efforts done by author to unveil the structure of brutality on innocent people of Kashmir. Mannan has knitted this book in way that reader cant get way as long as he/she comes to end.
The book has cover page photo of skull with multiple pellets inscribed over whole area in it, which clearly indicates the lethality of the weapon which the forces are claiming to be non lethal to suppress the agitation. The author has presented book with the starting of reminiscent of 1990 when the armed struggle against illegal brutal occupation of India was on surge. Indian government then declared Kashmir sensitive place and enacted black laws which havent any place in modern world. Laws like AFSPA, TADA AND PSA were imposed on people to shield the armed forces, who later with the advantage of these laws unleashed a rein of terror by killing, tortures, mass rapes, incarceration and enforced disappearances of hundreds of people and made Kashmir in to military garrison where more than 6.00,000 troops make their presence, turning it one of the deadly conflict zone as jotted down Mannan in his book.
Author has also highlighted that 70,000 have been killed, nearly 8,000 have been subjugated to enforced disappearance, and thousands have been raped.
Mannan has also presented a fleeting look of 2010 civil unrest and the unjustified killing of teenagers like Zahid Farooq, Wamiq Farooq, and Tufail Matto which added fuel to the freedom struggle. The book in its starting has clearly highlighted the lethality of pellets and the severe damage it can cause if it hits vital organs.
Page no 9 and 10 of the book documented the study conducted by SK institute of medical science Soura, which divulged that pellet gun fire have caused death of at least six persons, severely injured 198 persons and five persons according to report have lost their eyesight following the pellet injuries.
Another study on page no 11 of the book titled profile and outcome of violence related injuries of patients during civilian unrest in a conflict zone has noted that attending doctors grappled with patients who suffered due to pellets.
From page no 25 to 86 the author proffer the glimpse on the victims and the heart wrenching tragedies by deadly pellets, one of such tragedy is on page no 27 , meted to a boy from pro- freedom citadel Sopore ,Mudasir Nazir Hajam, the first person who lost his life after being hit by pellet fire. It was the month of Ramadan, Mudasir left his home in order to offer evening prayers and break his fast at Mosque, and he promised his mother to join them at dinner but didnt keep his promise as he suffered critical injuries when CRPF personals fired pellets indiscriminately on Mudasir and his two friends. Mudasir was referred to Skims where he last his breath.
Due to pellet injuries almost whole small intestine was punctured with massive gangrene. Doctors who treated Mudasir said that they have never seen such condition of the patient. Mudasir was the lone son of his parents, who succumbed to injuries on 20-08-2010; he is survived by his two sisters and his wailing mother and frantic father. He promised to come back but he came in coffin.
Where ere my son? Why didnt I stop you from visiting mosque on that fateful day? You are my first child. You were my hope. Your death has shattered our dreams screams his weeping mother Naseema. Mudasir is not lonely person who lost his life by pellet brutality.
Page no 34 of the book offers the tragedy of 14 year old Irshad Parry, 8th standard boy from Anantnag became second person who lost his life, when hundreds of pellets were fired upon him by police personals deployed near Sher bagh Anantnag .Irshad as per his parents was on fasting when horde of pellets hit him, Irshad was declared brought dead on 30-08-2010.
On page 47, Mannan presented haunted Babbage of the rag picker boy Sajad Ahmad Darzi, hailing from poor and backward family, who lost his life at the age of 13 in august 2010. Sajad suffered injuries on his right hand but due to poverty he couldnt receive proper medical attention.
When I took Sajad for MRI test, I had to beg to collect 7500 says his father. He was later shifted to bone and joint hospital where he was amputated twice but despite of amputations infection continuously kept spreading. I approached district administration to generate funds for the treatment of my son but I have to return with despair. Finally after three consecutive surgeries he lasted breath his last on 19-05 -2012.
I knew my son was going to die so I decided to give ice cream but I dint have single penny then I borrowed money to fulfill last wish of my son says his mother.
Irsahd, Mudasir and Sajad are not the lone persons who lost their lives in pellet hunting.
Mannan Bukhari has also highlighted the worst condition of its sufferers who have been subjugated to complete vision disability, victims like Danish Ahmed Sheikh,feroz Ahmad Kandoo,owais Ahmad Dentho ,Sohail Ahmad khan,Muzamil Qayoom, waheed Ahmed , farooq Ahmad katoo, waseem Nabi Dar, Sahil Ahmad war ,Musaib Ahmad, Parveez Ahmed kaloo, Sajad Ahmad Malla, Momin Bilal kinu and farooq Ahmad Malla are the people who have faced excesses by forces, some of them have been blinded, some of them have disfigured.
The book from page no 89 to 168 documented the articles from renowned journalists of the valley and they have severely criticized the pellet gunning on innocent unarmed protesters. some of the journalists in their articles have compared pellet brutality in Kashmir with the Zionist assault on Palestinians and with the US assault in Afghanistan war in 2001.
From page no 171 to 214 Mannan has presented R.T.I reports from different hospitals of the valley and from page no 217 to end book offers medical research articles.
Gautam Navalakha an prominent human rights activist in his forward scars of pellets gun has depicted it as book which tells you records and documents, what befell people at the hands of Indian occupation forces, when military forces turned non lethal. And in so doing it further lends credence to the body of the literature about the hideous aspect of war to win hearts; where not just hearts but minds are target of attack.
From this book scars of pellet gun we came to know author worked with his full enthusiasm to get date via RTI and to have to visit continuously to the pellet gun victims through out the valley. The author has also documented statics and data to support the argument that use of pellet gun is a crime against humanity.
Some of the victims as per author wouldnt able to save their lives due to their poor economic conditions and the dilapidated medical treatment facility available in state, their condition worsened finally they breath their last.
The book has sent out clear message to the world that pellet which where earlier on birds animals now it is being used on the humans, which indicates how the people of Kashmir are being treated and the exact number of the victims could be more as people dont prefer to government hospitals for treatment because of fear from police to register cases against pellet victims under section of sedition and waging war against state.
Mannans book scars of pellet gun assists us in challenging lie that expedient of inhumane policies to secure lasting peace and the restoration of human rights to the ordinary kashmiris who want to live with dignity and freedom.
Overall author has done admirable job, the style of writing and the choice of words is brilliant. Book deserves appreciation and reorganization. I would like to describe the book in one line a stunning work by Mannan that touches your heart to the core.
Besides Mannan Bukhari, Tassaduq Hussein Baba deserves praiseworthy appreciation for designing the cover page of this book.
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