Pellet-hit Soura youth continues to be critical

Srinagar, Jun 19: Soura youth, who was injured in protests close to his home on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, continues to be in a critical state here at the SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).
Abdul Majid, 24, was hit with a flurry of pellets, some of which penetrated his skull and landed close to his brain matter.
They were fired by the government forces deputed to deal with the protesting youth, who marched on the streets of Dar Mohalla, Soura, soon after the Eid prayers ended last Saturday.
The pellets, as per the doctors treating Majid, had caused a blood clot in his skull, forcing them to put him on a ventilator.
A local youth, who was a witness to him getting hit, said Majid was quite conscious after the incident.
He, the witness said, was even talking to them on way to the hospital.
“He was bleeding profusely, but wanted to the treated by a local compounder. We forced and took him to the SKIMS on a motorbike. There, he even told the doctor his name, and how and who had shot him. We hardly knew that his condition would worsen so much,” the witness said, wishing not to be quoted by name.
A senior doctor at SKIMS said while Majid has shown signs of improvement, his overall state continued to remain critical.
“There is a pellet that has landed in one specific vein close to his brain. It is quite risky to operate upon him at this point. We are first trying to drain out the clotted blood. Once he recovers a bit, we will deal with the other issue,” the senior doctor said.
Majid’s aged mother continues to be in a state of shock.
Her discreet sobs coupled with persistent prayers getting noticed by every other passerby in the corridor close to Intensive Care Unit, where her son, entangled in wires and pipes, is battling for his life.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Farooq Jan, told The Kashmir Monitor that Majid was “better”.
“He is a tad better. We cannot remove some pellets lodged in his brain, as that would cause more damage to him. I won’t say he is out of danger, but he is a shade better. His life support has been taken off,” he said.