Doctors at SMHS say pellets fired from point-blank range, vital organs badly damaged
Srinagar: The emergency ward of SMHS Hospital witnessed chaotic scenes on Friday when a teenager from Zonimar area in Srinagar was brought there with severe pellet injuries in his abdomen.
The 16-year-old boy, Zahid Ahmad, was operated on immediately and doctors said that hundreds of pellets had pierced his right abdomen region.
“Pellets have been fired probably from point-blank range,” doctors at SMHS Hospital said.
People accompanying Zahid, a Class 11 student, were agitated when they brought him to the hospital in critical condition, with his clothes soaked in blood.
Zahid’s family said that government forces fired at him at Nawa Kadal and left him unattended there.
“They targeted him when he was returning from an examination center,” they said.
“Zahid was found unconscious in a pool of blood by two scooter-borne youth at Nawa Kadal. They brought him to the hospital,” said Zahid’s brother, Yasir Ahmad.
According to him, Zahid had gone to appear in an exam of ‘Economics and Entrepreneurship’ subject and was returning from the exam center when the government forces wounded him.
Doctors who treated Zahid said that many of his vital organs, especially his right kidney, had been badly injured as hundreds of pellets had entered his body.
“His situation is very bad as the pellets have pierced his vital organs, especially the right kidney. Though we have stabilised him and plugged the big entry wound, we are apprehensive that the injury has affected his other vital organs as well,” said an on-duty doctor, requesting anonymity.
Medical Superintendent of SHMS Hospital, Dr Saleem Tak, said Zahid had serious pellet injuries in the right side of his abdomen and the pellets may have damaged many of the tissues in that vital region.
“Our doctors have already operated on him and put him under close observation for 24 hours. We will decide about his treatment plan and management after some days. He might need long-term treatment for repair of his vital organs,” Dr Tak said.
According to eyewitnesses, Zahid was hit by pellets from point-blank range after government forces opened fire at Nawa Kadal to disperse stone-pelting youth after Friday prayers.
He was brought to SMHS Hospital by two scooter-borne youth, witnesses said.
Dr Tak said the hospital had received one more pellet victim, who was hit in one eye, but he was discharged soon as his injury was superficial.
