Kashmir's first pellet victim receives LPG dealership after decade-long wait

Insha Mushtaq, a resident of Shopian's Seadow village, has become the first pellet gun victim in Kashmir to receive a government-funded rehabilitation package. The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the release of ₹41.16 lakh to complete an LPG distributorship in her favour, a measure initially sanctioned in 2018 but left incomplete due to lack of funds.

Ms. Mushtaq, now a final-year Bachelor of Arts student, lost her eyesight in July 2016 when dozens of pellets struck her eyes during a police operation in her neighbourhood. She was preparing for her Class 8 examination at the time. Multiple surgeries in Srinagar and Delhi failed to restore her vision. She continues to have pellets lodged in her eyes and requires regular check-ups.

The approval was announced by Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma, who said the decision reflects the government's commitment to honouring promises made to those awaiting justice. "Although an LPG distributorship had been sanctioned in her favour in 2018, the project remained incomplete because the remaining funds had not been released. The present government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has now approved the pending amount to bring the rehabilitation measure to its intended conclusion," Mr. Sharma said.

Ms. Mushtaq said she first met former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who approved the dealership in 2018, and later approached top officials, including the Chief Secretary. She thanked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister Satish Sharma for finalising the process. "For this, I met with top officials, including the Chief Secretary. But I must thank Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his minister Satish Sharma for making it a reality," she said.

Despite her disability, Ms. Mushtaq has pursued higher education using Braille and assistive screen-reader technologies. Her story gained national attention in 2016 when images of her with cotton-covered eyes darkened by sunglasses became a symbol of the impact of pellet guns during street protests in Kashmir.

The use of pellet guns in crowd control has been a contentious issue. In 2016, over 6,000 civilians in Kashmir suffered pellet injuries during protests that followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. More recently, a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, involving a group called the Cockroach Janta Party, drew renewed attention to the use of pellets, and the Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition against the weapon.

Ms. Mushtaq said that while the government has kept its promise to her, broader action is needed. "The Supreme Court is hearing the case after the Jantar Mantar protest. It is a welcome move. However, when hundreds of civilians in Kashmir were hit by pellets, no one heard their voices. I appeal to all, pellet guns should be banned not only in Kashmir but across India," she said.

Her story highlights a persistent gap between government promises and timely rehabilitation. The approval of her LPG dealership, while delayed, marks a concrete step toward addressing grievances of pellet gun victims, even as questions over the weapon's continued use remain unresolved.