By Abhishek Jha:
In valley-wide protests following the encounter of Hizbul Mujhaideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 23 civilians are reported to have died in south Kashmir and over 200 are reported to be injured across the valley at the time of writing this report. The dead also includes a woman who succumbed to injuries on July 10. Another report quotes a senior doctor from Srinagar’s SMHS hospital as saying that the situation is worse than in 2010 as the hospital would not get 50 injured people in one go that year. Exact numbers are hard to ascertain as mobile internet remains suspended and curfew-like restrictions are in place.
The Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) said the same in a press release on July 10. The press release says that 18 out of the 55 patients admitted to SMHS on July 9 are below the age of 18 years, that 16 have bullet injuries, while 37 were injured due to pellets, 19 among which have severe eye injuries. The JKCCS has also questioned ADGP (CID)S.M. Sahai’s claim of injuries to police personnel due to firearms used by civilians, and asked the government to release the name of the injured policemen. “Otherwise Mr. Sahai claim is part of the regular government psy-ops,” the press release says.
The Resident Doctors’ Association of SMHS has also alleged tear gas shelling inside the emergency room of SMHS on July 9 in a press statement, while JKCCS says that the police and CRPF have raided the hospital’s casualty section four times since July 9. Citing that “attacking hospitals and ambulances is a crime under the International Humanitarian Law” the JKCCS said that “absolute lawlessness and impunity enjoyed by the Indian armed forces” must be condemned by “people of conscience in India and internationally”.
Watch this July 10 Video Volunteer report from south Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) for on-ground situation there right now. Some images in the report are graphic.
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