Ghulam Hassan Sheikh (67), a cobbler by profession was busy mending a customer’s shoe near the road side when suddenly, out of nowhere, intense bangs were heard and smoke emanating from tear gas shells covered the air around him. 

When he heard the bangs, and the commotion that followed around, he quickly started collecting his tools from his make shift shop on the road side.

What came as an utter shock for him was that the blasts he mistook for tear smoke shells were actually pellets fired at him directly.

“Within no time I saw that I was hit by pellets on different parts of my body. And before I could have a look on my injuries, I had to fled from the spot fearing for my life,” Sheikh said.

Pertinently, Ghulam Hassan has been hit by pellets as his entire body has been left maimed.

“But what has left me concerned is that my left eye is also hit by a pellet,” said a worried Hassan.

One of the relative accompanying him while talking to Kashmir Vision said that “he was sitting on the side of the road in main Chowk of Shopian as usual.

“As the news of killing of militants in our area spread, suddenly clashes broke out between youth and the forces.”

He added that “in hurry he started winding up his tools and it was during this melee that forces fired pellets, which ultimately hit him, resulting in injuries to him.”

Ghulam Hassan was initially rushed to Sub District Hospital Shopian and was later referred to SMHS for further treatment.

Guest