Hospitals in Srinagar treated more than 150 people injured by pellets and tear gas

Data from two hospitals in Srinagar reveal that at least 152 people have suffered injuries from tear gas and pellets in Kashmir after security forces launched a crackdown in the region, according to a report by Reuters.

Additional paramilitary forces were deployed in the region by the government. Any form of public gathering is banned by the government along with a complete shutdown of cellular and internet services. This was done to prevent any large-scale protest following government’s decision to revoke Article 370 and Article 35A from the Constitution which will end the special status given to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Still people have come out in the streets, especially youth during the Friday prayers in Srinagar. The crowd threw stones at the security forces prompting retaliatory action by the security forces, Reuters reported.

According to data obtained by Reuters, at least 152 people received medical attention at two hospitals in Srinagar, after getting injuries from pellets and tear gas from August 5 to August 21.

The government denies any protests that happened in the region and takes pride in saying that no casualty took place in this month where more than 50,000 have died in armed revolt since 1989.

Reuters has quoted a local government official in the state as saying that the number of injured are much higher than the figures received from the two hospitals.

People who were discharged within hours, do not feature in the list of the hospitals, says the official, while others with wounds were treated at smaller hospitals.