Camillo Pasquarelli
Camillo Pasquarelli
Camillo Pasquarelli
Italy
Italy
Italy
Series: The valley of shadows
Series: The valley of shadows
Series: The valley of shadows
The valley of Kashmir, a territory disputed by India and Pakistan since 1947, is one of the most militarized zones in the world. In 2010 the Indian government provided the security forces deployed in the state with a new weapon. Shotgun shells filled with hundreds of small lead pellets are since then used to keep urban protests under control. Defined as a “non-lethal” weapon, pellet guns should be aimed at the lower part of the body.
On 8 July 2016 the main guerrilla group’s young commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter by the Indian army. Popular especially among the youth, Wani’s martyrdom was the sparkle that lighted up the entire valley. The government imposed a four-monthlong curfew on the local population, while separatist leaders called for a continuous strike.
Hundreds of people filled the streets protesting against the “Indian occupation”, throwing stones against the army. Security forces, since July 2016, responded using pellet guns extensively.
According to a UN report released in 2018, the weapon is responsible for blinding around 1000 people and killing dozens
Many of the victims were not involved in the clashes with security forces. Those who were hit during the protests tend to avoid speaking about it openly, fearing retaliation.
Carrying dozens of pellets in their bodies, victims face unknown long term health consequences.
Left partially or totally blind, victims speak of the darkness descended upon their lives. The only things left to see are the faint shadows that surround them.
Amir Kabir Beigh, 26 years old, from Baramulla.
Amir Kabir Beigh, 26 years old, from Baramulla.
Amir Kabir Beigh, 26 years old, from Baramulla.
“In September 2010 I was going to buy some medicine for my mother by evening time when a group of security forces fired at me near the bridge of the old town. There had been clashes throughout the day but it was calm at that time. I was alone on the street so only after some minutes somebody found me and took me to the hospital. I have gone through a lot of surgeries all over India but I am still completely blind”. Amir is the first pellet victim of Kashmir, he received hundreds of iron balls on his body.
“In September 2010 I was going to buy some medicine for my mother by evening time when a group of security forces fired at me near the bridge of the old town. There had been clashes throughout the day but it was calm at that time. I was alone on the street so only after some minutes somebody found me and took me to the hospital. I have gone through a lot of surgeries all over India but I am still completely blind”. Amir is the first pellet victim of Kashmir, he received hundreds of iron balls on his body.
“In September 2010 I was going to buy some medicine for my mother by evening time when a group of security forces fired at me near the bridge of the old town. There had been clashes throughout the day but it was calm at that time. I was alone on the street so only after some minutes somebody found me and took me to the hospital. I have gone through a lot of surgeries all over India but I am still completely blind”. Amir is the first pellet victim of Kashmir, he received hundreds of iron balls on his body.
Gulzar Ahmad Mir, 30 years old, from Achabal.
Gulzar Ahmad Mir, 30 years old, from Achabal.
Gulzar Ahmad Mir, 30 years old, from Achabal.
“It was the day after the martyr of Burhan Wani when I lost my right eye. I can’t see anything now from it”. Gulzar belongs to a poor family and before the incident, he was the only male member who was working; now he is no longer able to work in the fields to earn money.
“It was the day after the martyr of Burhan Wani when I lost my right eye. I can’t see anything now from it”. Gulzar belongs to a poor family and before the incident, he was the only male member who was working; now he is no longer able to work in the fields to earn money.
“It was the day after the martyr of Burhan Wani when I lost my right eye. I can’t see anything now from it”. Gulzar belongs to a poor family and before the incident, he was the only male member who was working; now he is no longer able to work in the fields to earn money.
Firdous Ahmed Dar, 24 years old, from Sopore.
Firdous Ahmed Dar, 24 years old, from Sopore.
Firdous Ahmed Dar, 24 years old, from Sopore.
“I was walking to a shop and there was no protest around but suddenly a Central Reserve Police Forces vehicle came out and opened fire. I screamed for the pain and some people took me to the hospital. I had just bought a new autorickshaw—local taxi—selling a piece of land, but now I can’t use it. I should be able to sustain my family with it instead of being completely dependent on them as I am right now”. Firdous received six pellets in his left eye. He completely lost his right eye after it was hit by seven pellets.
“I was walking to a shop and there was no protest around but suddenly a Central Reserve Police Forces vehicle came out and opened fire. I screamed for the pain and some people took me to the hospital. I had just bought a new autorickshaw—local taxi—selling a piece of land, but now I can’t use it. I should be able to sustain my family with it instead of being completely dependent on them as I am right now”. Firdous received six pellets in his left eye. He completely lost his right eye after it was hit by seven pellets.
“I was walking to a shop and there was no protest around but suddenly a Central Reserve Police Forces vehicle came out and opened fire. I screamed for the pain and some people took me to the hospital. I had just bought a new autorickshaw—local taxi—selling a piece of land, but now I can’t use it. I should be able to sustain my family with it instead of being completely dependent on them as I am right now”. Firdous received six pellets in his left eye. He completely lost his right eye after it was hit by seven pellets.
Shakeela Begum, 35 years old, from Sheeri.
Shakeela Begum, 35 years old, from Sheeri.
Shakeela Begum, 35 years old, from Sheeri.
“One night we heard some noises coming from outside our house. There were 20 security forces men with two tied and face covered boys. It was a fake encounter—when soldiers kill someone in cold blood while claiming that the casualty occurred in a gun battle. I went out and started to shout to a kashmiri policeman. He hit me with the stick so I slapped him telling he should feel ashamed of what he is doing against his own people. After one week some clashes were going on so I opened the gate of my house to check the situation. The same policeman was on the road. He saw me and opened the fire. I immediately faint, but I think I heard him laughing during the last moment”. Shakeela received dozens of pellets on the chest, one on the left eye and two in the right one. The pellets have been shot from a very short distance and they have gone beyond the retina leaving her only 10% of the vision.
“One night we heard some noises coming from outside our house. There were 20 security forces men with two tied and face covered boys. It was a fake encounter—when soldiers kill someone in cold blood while claiming that the casualty occurred in a gun battle. I went out and started to shout to a kashmiri policeman. He hit me with the stick so I slapped him telling he should feel ashamed of what he is doing against his own people. After one week some clashes were going on so I opened the gate of my house to check the situation. The same policeman was on the road. He saw me and opened the fire. I immediately faint, but I think I heard him laughing during the last moment”. Shakeela received dozens of pellets on the chest, one on the left eye and two in the right one. The pellets have been shot from a very short distance and they have gone beyond the retina leaving her only 10% of the vision.
“One night we heard some noises coming from outside our house. There were 20 security forces men with two tied and face covered boys. It was a fake encounter—when soldiers kill someone in cold blood while claiming that the casualty occurred in a gun battle. I went out and started to shout to a kashmiri policeman. He hit me with the stick so I slapped him telling he should feel ashamed of what he is doing against his own people. After one week some clashes were going on so I opened the gate of my house to check the situation. The same policeman was on the road. He saw me and opened the fire. I immediately faint, but I think I heard him laughing during the last moment”. Shakeela received dozens of pellets on the chest, one on the left eye and two in the right one. The pellets have been shot from a very short distance and they have gone beyond the retina leaving her only 10% of the vision.
Shabkal Nazir Waseem, 25 years old, from Bijbehera.
Shabkal Nazir Waseem, 25 years old, from Bijbehera.
Shabkal Nazir Waseem, 25 years old, from Bijbehera.
“It was the day of Eid—the end of Ramadan—and I was watching the clashes happening on the national highway. The policemen saw that I was there and they targeted me. The security forces stopped all the vehicles, including the one carrying injured people. They took me to the hospital in a wood barrow. On the same day, four people lost their vision in Kashmir”. Nazir has received 100 pellets to the upper side of the body: two are in the right eye and two in the left eye. His visual capacity today is 10%.
“It was the day of Eid—the end of Ramadan—and I was watching the clashes happening on the national highway. The policemen saw that I was there and they targeted me. The security forces stopped all the vehicles, including the one carrying injured people. They took me to the hospital in a wood barrow. On the same day, four people lost their vision in Kashmir”. Nazir has received 100 pellets to the upper side of the body: two are in the right eye and two in the left eye. His visual capacity today is 10%.
“It was the day of Eid—the end of Ramadan—and I was watching the clashes happening on the national highway. The policemen saw that I was there and they targeted me. The security forces stopped all the vehicles, including the one carrying injured people. They took me to the hospital in a wood barrow. On the same day, four people lost their vision in Kashmir”. Nazir has received 100 pellets to the upper side of the body: two are in the right eye and two in the left eye. His visual capacity today is 10%.
Mohammad Asif Dar, 23 years old, from Baramulla.
Mohammad Asif Dar, 23 years old, from Baramulla.
Mohammad Asif Dar, 23 years old, from Baramulla.
“It was August 1st 2016 and I was playing cricket with some friends. Nearby there were some low clashes. Suddenly the Kashmiri policemen arrived and shot at us. I was hit on the chest, shoulder and head. I can’t describe the pain I felt. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t see anything, I was about to fall down into a river, but some people helped me and took me to the hospital”. Asif, after eight surgeries, has 10% left of his vision in the right eye.
“It was August 1st 2016 and I was playing cricket with some friends. Nearby there were some low clashes. Suddenly the Kashmiri policemen arrived and shot at us. I was hit on the chest, shoulder and head. I can’t describe the pain I felt. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t see anything, I was about to fall down into a river, but some people helped me and took me to the hospital”. Asif, after eight surgeries, has 10% left of his vision in the right eye.
“It was August 1st 2016 and I was playing cricket with some friends. Nearby there were some low clashes. Suddenly the Kashmiri policemen arrived and shot at us. I was hit on the chest, shoulder and head. I can’t describe the pain I felt. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t see anything, I was about to fall down into a river, but some people helped me and took me to the hospital”. Asif, after eight surgeries, has 10% left of his vision in the right eye.
Faiz Firdouz, 18 years old, from Srinagar.
Faiz Firdouz, 18 years old, from Srinagar.
Faiz Firdouz, 18 years old, from Srinagar.
“It was the end of July 2016. Clashes were going on outside the mosque of my neighbourhood. I went out to buy some bread and suddenly, behind the corner, I found myself surrounded by kashmiri policemen that fired at me immediately. Why? What was my fault? Why they ruined my career, my future? The medical treatment is very expensive and my family is begging for money. Nobody is helping us”. Faiz received 20 pellets, of those, two damaged his right eye and now he claims to be able to see only shadows.
“It was the end of July 2016. Clashes were going on outside the mosque of my neighbourhood. I went out to buy some bread and suddenly, behind the corner, I found myself surrounded by kashmiri policemen that fired at me immediately. Why? What was my fault? Why they ruined my career, my future? The medical treatment is very expensive and my family is begging for money. Nobody is helping us”. Faiz received 20 pellets, of those, two damaged his right eye and now he claims to be able to see only shadows.
“It was the end of July 2016. Clashes were going on outside the mosque of my neighbourhood. I went out to buy some bread and suddenly, behind the corner, I found myself surrounded by kashmiri policemen that fired at me immediately. Why? What was my fault? Why they ruined my career, my future? The medical treatment is very expensive and my family is begging for money. Nobody is helping us”. Faiz received 20 pellets, of those, two damaged his right eye and now he claims to be able to see only shadows.
Arif Yaseen, 18 years old, from Awantipora.
Arif Yaseen, 18 years old, from Awantipora.
Arif Yaseen, 18 years old, from Awantipora.
“I was on my way home from work on the July 9th 2016 when I have been hit by pellets. There was no protest in the area at that time. I have gone through 8 surgeries but none could help me to regain the vision of my right eye. The doctors were not able to treat these kinds of injuries: the more they tried to take one pellet off my eye, more they were actually pushing it further”. Arif received two pellets in the right eye and completely lost the vision.
“I was on my way home from work on the July 9th 2016 when I have been hit by pellets. There was no protest in the area at that time. I have gone through 8 surgeries but none could help me to regain the vision of my right eye. The doctors were not able to treat these kinds of injuries: the more they tried to take one pellet off my eye, more they were actually pushing it further”. Arif received two pellets in the right eye and completely lost the vision.
“I was on my way home from work on the July 9th 2016 when I have been hit by pellets. There was no protest in the area at that time. I have gone through 8 surgeries but none could help me to regain the vision of my right eye. The doctors were not able to treat these kinds of injuries: the more they tried to take one pellet off my eye, more they were actually pushing it further”. Arif received two pellets in the right eye and completely lost the vision.
Asif Ahmad Sheikh, 10 years old, from Anantnag.
Asif Ahmad Sheikh, 10 years old, from Anantnag.
Asif Ahmad Sheikh, 10 years old, from Anantnag.
“After one week of the killing of Burhan Wani, I went out to buy some sweets. The curfew had just been removed and I was at one shop in a tiny alley close to my house. From the main road, a police vehicle passed by and some boys started throwing stones at it. They shot them and I was hit by 15 pellets. Now I have a lot of problems at school but my friends keep coming everyday at my home to help me”. Asif received only one pellet on the right eye, but lost his vision entirely.
“After one week of the killing of Burhan Wani, I went out to buy some sweets. The curfew had just been removed and I was at one shop in a tiny alley close to my house. From the main road, a police vehicle passed by and some boys started throwing stones at it. They shot them and I was hit by 15 pellets. Now I have a lot of problems at school but my friends keep coming everyday at my home to help me”. Asif received only one pellet on the right eye, but lost his vision entirely.
“After one week of the killing of Burhan Wani, I went out to buy some sweets. The curfew had just been removed and I was at one shop in a tiny alley close to my house. From the main road, a police vehicle passed by and some boys started throwing stones at it. They shot them and I was hit by 15 pellets. Now I have a lot of problems at school but my friends keep coming everyday at my home to help me”. Asif received only one pellet on the right eye, but lost his vision entirely.
Danish Rajab Jhat, 24 years old, from Srinagar.
Danish Rajab Jhat, 24 years old, from Srinagar.
Danish Rajab Jhat, 24 years old, from Srinagar.
“It was evening time and the police was chasing the stone thrower in my neighbourhood. I was just sitting on the side of the road and they shot me. I don’t remember anything about that moment, I woke up in the hospital. The left eye was entirely damaged so the doctors replace it with an artificial eyeball”. A shell entered through the left eye and the pellets dispersed all over the the head damaging also the right eye. Danish still has 90 pellets inside his body and from the right eye he can barely see shadows.
“It was evening time and the police was chasing the stone thrower in my neighbourhood. I was just sitting on the side of the road and they shot me. I don’t remember anything about that moment, I woke up in the hospital. The left eye was entirely damaged so the doctors replace it with an artificial eyeball”. A shell entered through the left eye and the pellets dispersed all over the the head damaging also the right eye. Danish still has 90 pellets inside his body and from the right eye he can barely see shadows.
“It was evening time and the police was chasing the stone thrower in my neighbourhood. I was just sitting on the side of the road and they shot me. I don’t remember anything about that moment, I woke up in the hospital. The left eye was entirely damaged so the doctors replace it with an artificial eyeball”. A shell entered through the left eye and the pellets dispersed all over the the head damaging also the right eye. Danish still has 90 pellets inside his body and from the right eye he can barely see shadows.
