Srinagar: Aug 11, 2017
As it compiles the list of victims eligible for compensation, the government said wrong names and addresses are proving a hurdle for beneficiaries.
Bilal*, a youth from strife-torn south Kashmir, was hit by pellets during the summer unrest in the Valley last year. A bleeding Bilal was rushed to the nearest government hospital from where he was referred to Srinagar. With pro-azadi sentiments running high among the youth at that time, Bilal got himself registered as “Burhan” in the hospital.
But today, a partially-blind Bilal is at his wit’s end to prove his real identity in order to avail the compensation announced by the state government. He has to convince officials that it was indeed he (Bilal) who was hit by pellets that day, and not some fictitious Burhan.
The large-scale protests that broke out last summer following the gunning down of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, saw scores of stone-pelting youth receiving pellet injuries in retaliatory action by security forces. Most of these victims or their attendants did not enter their real identities in the hospital records to avoid “harassment” by police.
Now as the government attempts to compile a list of victims eligible for compensation, the wrong names and addresses are proving a hurdle for beneficiaries.
A senior official on condition of anonymity said since the government was keen on compensating the victims, thorough verification of their identities and hospital records would be done before a name is listed.
The committee that is looking into the issue has had several meetings and they have noticed “a few cases” of mistaken identity, a source said. However, a report in a local English daily put the number of such cases received till now at 27.
