A Decade After Losing Her Sight To Pellets, How Jantar Mantar Protest Changed A Kashmiri Woman’s Life

Days after allegations of pellet guns being used by police during a student protest at Jantar Mantar reignited the debate over the controversial crowd-control weapon, the story of a young Kashmiri woman who became one of its most recognisable victims has found renewed attention.

Nearly 748 kilometres away from the national capital, in Sedow village of Shopian, 24-year-old Insha Mushtaq was unaware that her years-long wait for rehabilitation was finally nearing an end because of the Delhi protests.

Insha was only 14 when pellets struck her face during the 2016 unrest in Kashmir, blinding her instantly. Her haunting images became emblematic of the devastating human cost of pellet shotguns, which left thousands injured during the unrest, with hundreds

suffering partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes.

As reports and visuals of alleged pellet injuries from the recent Jantar Mantar protest began circulating on television and social media, Insha’s story resurfaced, prompting fresh discussions on the long-term consequences of the weapon and the fate of its victims.

On Thursday, the Jammu and Kashmir government announced that it had approved the release of Rs 41.16 lakh to complete an LPG distributorship project allotted to Insha under the rehabilitation policy. The distributorship had been sanctioned in 2018 but remained incomplete for years due to the non-release of funds.

Announcing the decision on X, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma said, “Justice delayed but not denied. Insha Mushtaq lost her eyesight to pellets in 2016; her LPG distributorship was sanctioned in 2018 but left incomplete. Under HCM @OmarAbdullah, we’ve approved release of the ₹41.16 lakh balance to finally take this case to its logical conclusion.”

“I had to struggle and plead for this for years. Today, I feel both happy and sad. No one should have to endure what I went through,” Insha said after the announcement.

She said no one, regardless of their religion or background, should ever be hit by pellets while talking about how her life was destroyed in an instant.

While appealing to J&K LG Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah for the rehabilitation of pellet victims, she appeared for their dignified livelihood.

“Those who have suffered pellet injuries should be provided with opportunities to earn a livelihood and live with dignity. I appeal to both the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to look into such cases and ensure that other victims receive the support they deserve,” the pellet victim said.

The government’s decision marks the completion of a rehabilitation measure that had remained pending for years, offering Insha a long-awaited opportunity for financial security and dignified livelihood after a decade defined by loss and resilience.