Srinagar, Aug 14: The blood stained clothes catch the eye on entry to this ward in Bone and Joint hospital. In one of its corners a teenaged boy lying on the bed gazes around with frightened looks. Moments later he sighs heavily, closes his eyes, and attempts to sleep. But his momentary sleep is disturbed again.
 Shakir Ahmad had a close shave with death Friday afternoon in Bomai Sopur. He had left for home after offering Friday prayers in local Masjid when a bullet fired by CRPF trooper hit near his right elbow. Though Shakir was lucky to survive, moments later, his two colleagues, Arif Ahmad Mir and Sameer Ahmad Lone, who had offered prayers in another Masjid, fell to the CRPF bullets.
 “We had grown up together in same Mohalla. We used to play together. I will miss them,” the shocked Shakir told Greater Kashmir.
 After being hit by the bullet, Shakir, a 10th class student, had fallen unconscious only to open his eyes in the hospital “I have never participated in stone pelting or any protest,” Shakir said turning his face to the other side.
 One of the attendants to Shakir whispers he was very vocal yesterday. “I don’t know why he is silent today.” He said.
 Next to Shakir a young man shivers in pain as he nearly fells unconscious while doctors dress up his wound on right lower limb with ruptured flesh.
 Hakeem-ur-Rehman is another victim from Bomai.  
 “The pain is unbearable. I want to cry but when I remember those who were killed in the past two months, I feel my pain is nothing. And then I realize that though little I have contributed in some way…,” sighs Rehman. His is a known name in the Valley for leading a successful month long protests in Bomai for removal of Rashtriya Rifles camp from the area.
 Remembering the incident Rehman, an Imam at local Masjid said, following the Friday prayers “a peaceful protests led by me was marching towards main Chowk when we heard that CRPF has killed two persons.”
 “We decided to march towards the spot and take the bodies in a procession into the village and finally to their homes. However, near the main Chowk we were fired upon by the CRPF. On seeing the blood all around we thought it is the end,” Rehman said.  
 He said after being shot in the leg, “I was circled by a group of CRPF troopers in the ground near police station and beaten severely. I cried for help from police but the door of the police station never opened. The CRPF men continuously hit me on the arm, fracturing it. Later they felt that I was dead and left me alone”
 Doctors said the beating had resulted into dislocation of his arm’s (left) elbow cap and he would be operated upon to fix it.
 Javiad Ahmad who was shot at in right shoulder is lying on next bed. A local driver, Javaid says he was driving the ambulance carrying the bodies of the killed persons when he was fired upon.
 “The ambulance driver got injured when the vehicle came under teargas shelling attack from CRPF. Seeing this I jumped into the ambulance and started driving it toward the village when the bullet hit me,” he said.
 Doctors said the patients would be kept under observation for some more time before they are discharged. However, Shahazad is lucky. He was discharged today after his ankle, which was hit by a teargas shell fired by the CRPF men to disperse the people, was plastered today.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST