Srinagar, Mar 7, 2013 : Indian paramilitary forces and police personnel using the deadly pepper gas on Kashmiri protestors in Kashmir, the people of Kashmir has said that use of pepper gas is an inhuman act.
Human Rights Commission in Kashmir while banning of use of pepper gas shelling on protestors, aleast two old age persons died and more than 30 persons including minors were shifted to Hospital after police and CRPF personals fired pepper gas in Srinagar city and other districts of the valley .
Hospital sources admitted that many people including minors were given medical treatment as they were adversely affected by pepper gas.
Three persons including a woman is reported died and dozens others are being treated in Srinagar hospitals: more than a dozen children fell unconscious during this week in the Srinagar downtown area. Aisha daughter of Mohammad Latief and Aalia both from downtown areas fell unconscious after pepper gas was used in their localities to disperse the protestors.
Human rights activist Mohammad Ahsan Untoo in its report said that one Taja Begum (65)wife of late Ghulam Hassan Bhat of Saraf Kadal Srinagar is reported died due to infection of the Papper gas poison on March 7. the sons of the victims said that their mother died due to using of papper gas by Indian armed forces in the area.
He added that one Zakir Hussan Malik son fo Sanauallah Malik, Nisar Ahmad Malik son of Ghualma Hassan Dar of Chairakote Lolab Kupwara were injured by shelling of Special Operations Group and Central Reserve Police Force and later Zakir Hussain was hit and critically injured by the armed forces vehicle.
Two Civilians namely Abdul Rashid Sheikh R/O Qutab ud din Pora, Aali Kadal, Srinagar died due to the inhaling of pepper gas used by the Indian paramilitary forces and Police in the down town area of Aali Kadal Srinagar on 17.02.13 and another person namely Mohammad Yousuf Sofi s/o Late Ali Mohammad Sofi R/O Batmaloo, Srinagar died on 20.2.2013 due to Pepper Gas.
“Old aged people, women and children often suffocate and have to remain outside in the air as the use of pepper gas have made their lives hell”, said the inhabitants of Srinagar city.
,People of Pulwama, Baramulla and some other places of Kashmir said that during protests CRPF and Police personnel used pepper guns which adversely affects the health of people.
Auqaf Committee Pulwama spokesman Bashir Aazim said, “We have informed authorities to stop the use of pepper guns immediately, otherwise we will launch district-wide agitation,” he said.
.Health expert View Point: Use of pepper gas in the residential areas is dangerous and is responsible for the various health risks even the risk of death is not ruled out by health experts.
“Closing of eyes, disconcerting sensation of the eyelids ‘bubbling and boiling’, an instant sensation of the restriction of the airways and the general feeling of sudden and intense, searing pain the face, nose and throat. Coughing almost always follows the initial spray”, said a Health expert.
“The duration of its effects depends on the strength of the spray but the average full effects around thirty to forty minutes, with diminished effects lasting for hours”, he added.
Health expert said that pepper spray are for more severe, including temporary blindness which lasts from 15-30 minutes, a burning sensation of the skin which lasts from 45 to 60 minutes, upper body spasms which force a person to bend forward and uncontrollable coughing making it difficult to breathe or speak for between 3 to 15 minutes.
The expert said that it can cause life risk to the asthma patients and to children, adding, “It could cause abortion to pregnant woman”.
Cognizance of the Complaint:
The human rights activist (HRA) Mohammad Ahsan Untoo while submitting his complaint to the Human Rights Commission in Kashmir has observed that life which is precious has its own fundamental right.
“After considering the fresh material placed on record, statutory duties are cast on the Commission to protect, safeguard life, liberty and dignity of the citizens of the state and cannot be mute spectator. State is duty bound under constitution and law to protect the lives of the citizens and in no case are at liberty or have license to adopt such measures which would endanger the health of its subjects in the name of maintaining law and order,” the member of human right commission Rafiq Fida observed in the order
Move to high Court:
Meanwhile, Kashmir based human rights groups including IFJHRF, Voice of Victims (VOV) has expressed serious concern over the situation. VOV Executive Director Abdul Qadeer and Coordinator Abdul Rouf Khan told media men that they are filling a writ petition in HighCourt Srinagar as Pepper Gas is being used by police & CRPF personnel as pepper gas is banned by the human rights commission in Kashmir.