A baby pink hand-woven sweater is in complete mismatch with the layers of white bandage on the operated right eye of 20-month-old Hibba Nissar, who became the youngest pellet victim of the Valley on November 25; her eyesight is unlikely to be restored fully despite fresh surgical intervention at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital.
“The surgical procedure performed on Hibba on Wednesday ensured that the pellet lodged inside the eye was removed successfully. However, the impact of the pellet and the rupture may not allow full restoration of sight in the eye. The baby will require more follow-ups to minimise the damage,” a doctor, who was part of the team that performed the surgery on her, told The Hindu .
Hibba was hit by multiple pellets fired by security forces during clashes at Kapran, a village adjacent to the Batgund area where six militants were killed on that day that sparked a cycle of clashes.
“She was operated upon on day one too. This was her second surgery. We are hopeful she will lead a normal life. She is too young to have committed any sin to be punished like this. I pray no family and no child witnesses such a trauma,” said the victim’s mother.
In the corridor of the ophthalmology unit at the hospital, where a number of patients are being treated, attendants and those passing by stop at the bed of pellet victim No. 1411 to pray for her quick recovery.
“The baby is so cute. The sight of the bandage on her eye just jolts us within. My prayers are with her,” said Nazia Jan, an attendant of another patient.
