KNZ NEWS DESK
Baramulla Nov 05 [KNZ]: Javid Ahmad Mir, a journalist in north Kashmir was targeted by government forces last year – pallets damaged both of his eyes – leaving him jobless, and without any compensation. People, who loved his reporting, are not keen to help either.
The former journalist spent lacs of rupees for his treatment in different hospitals in Kashmir.
Mir, 30, worked at Kashmir News Service (KNS) and then started his own Urdu news agency Kashmir News Network (KNN) in 2013. Few days ago, he sold his agency for his treatment.
Talking to Kashmir Reader, Mir, a resident of Langate area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, said, “I was targeted by a group of police men near my home on August 05, 2016. They fired hundreds of pellets towards me when there were anti-India protests in the area. I was hit ny pellets on both my eyes and on other parts of my body too. After that, I spent several months in Srinagar hospitals for treatment, but doctors can’t restore vision in my left eye.”
At least two pellets are still in my left eye due to which I am in burning pain. But I can’t afford the treatment. There are scores of pellets in other parts of my body as well.”
He said he acted like a normal person but he can’t see properly after sunset and can’t sleep because of pain in the left eye. “Doctors advised me to visit a hospital outside J&K, but I can’t afford the treatment.
Mir said that government announced they will release financial relief to all the persons who were injured, and had lost their vision to pellets and bullets. “Some received (the relief money) but I am still waiting,” he said. “After I was handicapped, no one from media fraternity helped me either. No one offered me a job.”
“I also contacted state human rights commission, Kashmir Editors Guild, and other social and governmental organisations for help and they assured me that they will take up the matter with government for financial relief in my favour, but nothing was done”.
